Kevin - Wine Specialist, Pasadena
Last weekend I was searching for a bold wine to pair with charcoal-grilled burgers, and decided to revisit the Priest Ranch 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon. We loved the wine (and the fun and friendly folks who brought it!) when we tasted it last year, and it's drinking even better now!
Named for a gold-rush prospector who first settled the land, Priest Ranch Winery farms over 240 acres spread across ridges and hills ranging from 800 to 1,600 feet above sea level. These steep growing sites force the roots of the vines to dig deep for nourishment, and the resulting grapes are all the better for the effort!
The first aromas on the nose are ripe red fruit and licorice, with notes of baking spice and leather leading to a big, juicy mouthfeel erupting with flavors of dark chocolate, blue fruit and espresso.
The wine was approachable upon first opening, but after breathing for a half-hour, the depth and nuance started to really come through.
We topped our burgers with Swiss cheese and grilled onions, and topped out our palates with this rich, full-bodied beauty!
There's still a few cases in our warehouse, but don't tarry- there's a sale on charcoal at my local hardware store, and I can't wait to enjoy another bottle while I cook over a live fire like a cosmopolitan cave-man!
