Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Signature
Tasting notes
Madrona's Cabernet Sauvignon is a striking example of what a high mountain vineyard can produce. The grapes are very small-berried resulting in a wine of deep color, intense fruit, and full bodied texture. Traditionally blended with Cabernet Franc for aromatic complexity and Merlot for tannin structure, we age this wine in the finest French and American oak. Our customers constantly search out older vintages of our Cabernet Sauvignon as it is known to age quite gracefully.
2019 Vintage
This is one of those Cabernets that will retain its fresh and youthful qualities long into its own life (and I’m not talking tannins here). Beautiful opaque color gives a hint to the depth of this wine for starters. Slight briary notes sprinkled into earthy and cherry characters form the base of the aromas while a subtle black olive extract adds a bit of the Cab Sauv complexity. The palate on the entry is medium-bodied showcasing more of the dark cherry fruit on the onset. Wait a hint, and the linearity of the essence of this wine commands notice. No peaks, no valleys, the 2019 vintage is uniformly balanced throughout. Black fruit, herbal notes, a hint of forest floor…it’s all there in this wine. Yet the tannins are refined and approachable, something not always seen in young mountain Cabs. And then the finish lingers long with black currant, a pinch of anise, and just a sprig of rosemary (or is it thyme?). You make the call on that.
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Appellation | El Dorado |
| Vineyard | Estate Vineyard |
| Designation | Signature |
| Acid | 0.60g/100ml |
| PH | 3.55 |
| Aging | 22 months in oak barrels (one-year-old and older French oak) |
| Alcohol | 14.50% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Bottling Date | 12/08/2021 |
| Cases Produced | 232 |
Our two blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon, planted at the home estate in Camino, take advantage of the gracefully rolling landscape of our vineyards. The "Big Block" slopes to the west for a warmer afternoon sun while the "Small Block's" exposure is north-easterly and a slightly cooler micro-climate. Established in 1973, these own-rooted vines are getting older, producing a smaller crop (1-2 tons/acre) with greater intensity. Perfect acidity coupled with wonderfully uniform color makes our Cabernet Sauvignon grapes consistently some of the nicest fruit we produce.
Paul Bush, Owner/Winemaker
Madroña Vineyards
Camino, California.
We are a family-owned and operated winery focusing on terroir-driven, Estate-Grown fruit.
Annual Case Production: 12,000 cases
Planted Acres: 70 acres planted at the 2,850 to 3,000 foot elevation.
Career Background: Having helped plant the family vineyards as a kid in 1973, I grew up working in our winery what seemed like every day after school. I had no intention of “winding up” in the wine industry and graduated from U.C. Davis in 1989 with a degree in Economics. However, with an interest in traveling abroad, our winery offered a flexible schedule and an opportunity to work with inspiring winemakers such as Mark Foster and Hugh Chappelle. I began managing the vineyards and business in 1991 and making the wines in late 2002.
Biggest Professional Challenge: Balance! Working with my wife, Maggie, we find our greatest challenge is how to be business owners with all of its responsibilities while making the wines, growing the grapes, marketing the brand and raising two daughters. Any given day can be filled with dusting the vineyards at daybreak, acid trials before lunch, working in the tasting room in the afternoon—and then throw in a swim meet or school play for spice. Undoubtedly, every small, family winery tackles the same aspect of wearing so many hats, but the challenge and excitement is unique to each one.
Varietals that Madroña is Known for: In total, we grow 27 varieties in our El Dorado vineyards. From within these plantings, however, I believe that Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, Riesling and the seven Portuguese varieties (for our New-World Port) are consistently outstanding.
Short Testimonial: I truly can’t imagine doing anything else but growing grapes and enjoying wine. I believe the terroir of our region is unique with overall cool-climate aspects, peppered with warm summer days and a slightly shorter growing season. So finding the true expression of each variety for our vineyards ends up being an exciting and challenging adventure every vintage. The wines have more backbone and structure than most regions of California while showcasing the intense varietal character of mountain fruit. Most often, I find that the wine knows best in how it should be “made,” and I’m just along for the ride. As we once heard in France, “One does not make wine. One elaborates wine!” And with our Estate-grown grapes, I am quite content to be the “elaborator.”
