92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, 3% Merlot

Food pairings: Filets, short ribs and T-bones grilled or broiled with salt, pepper and olive oil, or topped with herbed red wine reduction sauces; aged cheddar and most other hard cheeses.

Winemaking: The 2022 shows the ripeness expected from a low-rainfall, very warm vintage. Countless blending trials determined the subtle use of Malbec and Merlot to add roundness, complexity and dark fruit while keeping the Cabernet Sauvignon character paramount. The wine aged 21 months in 100% French oak barrels, 28% new with medium and medium-plus toasts for richness and texture, the rest second- and third-fill barrels that preserve the fruit. The estate follows a philosophy of minimal, gentle and timely vinification, handcrafting each vintage on site without excessive oak.

Vineyards and terroir: The Blue Rock Vineyard sits at the natural transition from rugged, steep, oak-studded hillside to the fertile lower slopes of western Alexander Valley in Sonoma County, and its mature vines yield balanced Cabernet Sauvignon of harmony and magnificence. The name comes from the local soil, studded with blue pebbles, rocks and boulders of serpentine, which naturally yields a smaller crop. The hillside vineyard is planted to the five Bordeaux varieties, and cool mornings and warm days let them develop clarity and finesse. Farming is sustainable and low-input, relying on compost made on site and natural amendments rather than chemical fertilizers.

Family and history: Dating back to 1880, the Blue Rock estate tells the story of how European winemaking came to Alexander Valley: it was first settled by Italian immigrants who worked at the nearby Italian Swiss Colony winery, and its original stone house was once the Villa Maria winery, which closed during Prohibition. Kenny and Cheryl Kahn acquired the estate in 1987 and have preserved its old-world character, including olive trees more than 140 years old and a historic bocce court, while adding organic vegetable gardens and olive cuttings from Lucca, Italy. As vigneron, Kenny sets the tone for quality, summed up in the estate motto: "We don't make wine, we raise it."

In the pictures: Vigneron Kenny Kahn on the Blue Rock estate (courtesy of Blue Rock Vineyard), and the Vintner's Cottage at Blue Rock with its gardens (courtesy of Blue Rock Vineyard).