This is some serious juice at a seriously great price! Laely Heron, one of California first female winemakers and winery owners, has crafted what I believe to be one of the great Cabernet Sauvignon values produced in all of California.
Composed of fruit from the cooler, west side of Paso Robles, Laely's 2022's Cab just snagged a 92-point-rating from Wine Enthusiast, and it is priced to sell. I tasted this with my sales rep last week, and I agree with that rating wholeheartedly.
The good news is we just got 7 cases (84 bottles in), the bad news is that's it. We bought every bottle our distributor had, and we just got word that when they get more, it will be the '23 vintage.
2022 Heron Cabernet Sauvignon: Why should you buy it?
- There are not many 92-point California Cabs for less than $20. Trust me on this one folks, I spend countless hours looking for wines like this, and my search typically comes up empty.
- Laely Heron got her Oenology Degree at the University of Bordeaux, and I love the way this Cab balances Old World complexity with New World ripeness.
- Her talent and experience are on full display in this serious yet highly drinkable Cab. It delivers New World notes of ripe blackberry and dark cherry along with Old World nuances of tobacco, cedar, and graphite.
- Wine Enthusiast loved it too. "This wine is deep and focused with aromas of cranberry-blackberry compote, dried bay leaf, potpourri, and dark chocolate on the nose. The flavors on the palate are black currant confiture, dried black mission fig, orange marmalade, rolling into dried green herbs, and supple tannins on the finish."
Drink this superb value over the next 5 years with steak, lamb, mushrooms, or strong cheeses. No food required, but I think this wine's mild structure and balanced acidity make it taste better when paired with some fat and/or protein : )
