Co-fermented Field Blend ~ 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc & 3% Petit Verdot

Vineyard: Waterhorse Ridge is planted on a rocky ridge just 5 miles away from the Pacific Ocean. The coastal air makes this one of the coolest climate Cabernet sites in all of California, but the rocky soils and exposure to full afternoon sun combine to fully ripen the fruit. The 2 acre vineyard is farmed entirely by hand by Jesus Velasquez. It is dry farmed, no-till, and organic.

Winemaking: The grapes were de-stemmed into an open top fermenter, with 10% of stems added back, and gently punched down during a long, cool native yeast fermentation. The wine aged for 12 months in 500L and 225L French oak barrels, including 20% new, and was bottled unfined & unfiltered and minimal effective SO2.

Vintage notes: Precision in a warm year. The 2024 is unabashedly California, but that does not mean full throttle. Ripe fruit but with restraint. The inherent density of fruit is on full display, starting red and then diving black, alongside bold acidity, juiciness and pleasing tannins. Its balance out of the gate means it does not require bottle age, but that same proportionality means it should age extremely well in the medium term in the cellar.

“The Cabernet Sauvignon Waterhorse Ridge is a delicate interpretation of California Cabernet—decidedly light in body but long on character. Juicy pomegranate, bay leaf, red cherry and sweet pipe tobacco nuances build in the glass, heightened by the inclusion of 5-10% stems. Crunchy, light and delicious, … a wine for readers who prefer an old-school, expressive approach to Cabernet. 93 pts” – Billy Norris, January 2026 about the 2023 vintage (Vinous)