This red Wente Duetto wine is made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes native to the Livermore Valley in San Francisco Bay. Yes, this is one of the finest wines we've ever tasted from this region. Two vineyards are used: the Smith Vineyard and the Sachau Vineyard, both decades old and located on Wente's best plots. The environment for the Cabernet Sauvignon grape is perfect: plenty of sunshine and the natural coolness of the Pacific breeze.
The harvest is entirely hand-harvested and rigorously selected. Only the finest bunches are collected, and the two vineyards are vinified separately. The blend is determined by winemaker Karl D. Wente, and the entire wine is then aged for at least 19 months in oak barrels. Eighty percent of the barrels are new and unused, allowing the wine to draw considerable power from the oak. The final result is unique and powerful.
Yes, it's a very full-bodied and powerful wine with all the beautiful qualities of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. It all starts with the aroma of this top-notch wine. Plenty of black fruit, light spices, vanilla, and cedar make the first impression. Swirl the glass well, and we also noted nuances of dried herbs and balsamic vinegar, along with a hint of plum. The palate is full and powerful, again with plenty of blackcurrant fruit, pure cocoa, vanilla, cedar, leather, tobacco, and so on. What a fantastic wine!
