Smokescreen Red Hills Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
We have 11 in stock (Inventory is live and accurate)
The Land
In 2017, Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Lake County averaged about $2,500 a ton, while Napa Cabernet averaged $7,510. The gap says more about name recognition than about the vineyards, and the Red Hills are where that shows most. The Red Hills Lake County AVA, established in 2004, rises from the southwestern shore of Clear Lake to the foot of Mount Konocti, with vines planted between roughly 1,400 and 3,000 feet. More than 90% of its soils are red volcanic gravels and cobbly loams derived from Konocti, a volcano last active about 11,000 years ago, and black obsidian turns up throughout the soil. The altitude brings intense sun and very low humidity, while breezes off the lake cool the afternoons. That combination builds thick-skinned Cabernet with deep color and firm tannin.
The Wine
Smokescreen Red Hills Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 is a mountain Cabernet Sauvignon from Lake County at 14.5% alcohol. Expect blackcurrant, blackberry, and cassis with graphite, cedar, and cocoa, a lift of dried sage and violet, then a dense middle framed by firm, powdery tannin and a long, savory finish. That powdery grip is classic Red Hills Cabernet, where high-altitude sun thickens the skins. The 2023 vintage helped. Rainfall in the Red Hills ran about 150% of average, refilling Clear Lake and delaying bud break, and a mild summer with only a few heat spikes pushed harvest later than in recent years. Lake County growers reported strong color, clean fruit, and higher acidity than in warmer years, which keeps this Cabernet from turning heavy.
The People
Smokescreen is the value label created by Paul Johnson, the winemaker behind FiftyRow Vineyards in St. Helena. Johnson came to winemaking late. After roughly 20 years living and working in Europe, including Sweden and Spain, he owned the Carlsbad wine shop Wine Street in the late 1990s, sold it in 2001, and founded FiftyRow with his wife, Marion, and winemaker Gary Galleron in 2002, making his first vintage in 2003 at 44. After the 2008 recession, buyers kept telling him they could not sell anything over $30, so he started Smokescreen to make wines at that price without cutting corners in the cellar. Over time he has looked beyond Napa for fruit, and the Red Hills, mountain Cabernet at a fraction of Napa prices, are a logical place to land.
Food Pairing
This is a Cabernet for food with some heft. A grilled ribeye with a coffee and ancho rub matches the cocoa and dark fruit, and the firm tannin cuts through the marbling. Lamb shoulder chops with rosemary, garlic, and a spoonful of black olive tapenade pick up the sage and graphite. Braised short ribs over creamy polenta give the powdery tannin fat and protein to grip. On a weeknight, a mushroom and caramelized onion burger with aged cheddar does the same job with less effort. This is mountain Cabernet at an everyday price, the bottle to open when the grill is already lit.
We ship wine to most states with a $100 minimum order for shipping. We don't ship spirits nor beer.
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Cabernet Sauvignon, originally hailing from Bordeaux, France, has triumphantly spread to become a cornerstone of vineyards worldwide, achieving particular renown in Napa Valley. This versatile grape variety adapts to a broad spectrum of climates, producing full-bodied wines that are rich in black cherry and blackcurrant flavors, with layered complexities of oak and spice. The grape's success in regions like Napa Valley is a testament to its global adaptability, where it benefits from the optimal blend of warm days and cool nights, coupled with diverse soil types, to express a unique balance of power and elegance that pays homage to its Bordeaux origins.
