2014 Cornell "Estate" Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

94 Points Vinous: "The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is bright, polished and super-refined to the core. Medium in body and gracious in the style of the year, the 2014 possesses remarkable balance. The 2014 is tightly wound and in need of time, but it is exceptionally beautiful and resonant. Beams of salinity extend the finish while adding brightness. This is a terrific debut for the winemaking team in their first full year in charge of the farming and winemaking.

A striking hillside property, Cornell is located on the Sonoma side of Spring Mountain, not too far from Togni, Pride and Fisher. I have been following Cornell for six years or so, through various ups and downs, plantings and replantings, transitions of people in key roles and a series of frankly uninspiring wines that were made here in the past. In 2013, proprietors Henry and Vanessa Cornell hired consulting winemaker Françoise Peschon to oversee a complete makeover. Peschon brought in vineyard guru Phil Coturri, who created the plan to redevelop the property and convert the estate to organic farming. Today, all farming is done in house, which is the kind of investment one only sees in properties with very high aspirations. Peschon also recruited Graham Wehmeier, previously at Merryvale, to take over day-to-day winemaking. Quite and unassuming, Wehmeier will soon be recognized as one of the most talented and thoughtful winemakers in California. The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is a significant improvement over the wines that were made here previously, while the 2014 is the first wine made from start to finish in both the vineyard and cellar by the current team. But it is the just-bottled 2015 that hints at what the ultimate potential of this site might be. The wines are done in the contemporary, classically leaning style that has brought Françoise Peschon so much acclaim at Araujo Estate and, more recently, at Vine Hill Ranch. Quite simply, these are gorgeous mountain Cabernets endowed with real class and pedigree." (7/2017) 

94 Points from Decanter Magazine: "In this second release of Cornell’s flagship wine, consultant winemaker Françoise Peschon blended 87% Cabernet Sauvignon with 10% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, and aged the wine for 19 months in 70% new French oak. The third consecutive year of drought in California produced an aromatic red with fragrant rose petals, cedar, blackberry, plum, cherry and sagebrush. There’s great drive and power on the palate, with brawny tannins, juicy blackberry fruit, spiced plum and chocolate-covered cherries, interlaced with tobacco, earth and graphite. A lingering acid lift offers a nice freshness through the long, spicy finish." (10/11/2021)