Wente Cabernet Sauvignon Southern Hills (75cl, 13.5%)

Wente Cabernet Sauvignon Southern Hills is a red wine from Central Coast and Livermore Valley, California, made by Wente Vineyards. It blends 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petite Sirah and 3% Petit Verdot. The vines descend from two clones tracing back to Bordeaux cuttings brought to California by Charles Wetmore in the 19th century. The 2021 vintage earned 90 points from Wine Enthusiast and a Gold Medal at the Los Angeles International Wine Competition. The nose leads with dark cherry and ripe plum, followed by cedar, cassis and baking spice. The palate opens with juicy cherry and dark plum, with coffee and blackcurrant at mid-palate, and the finish is long and smooth with feathery tannins and a faint chocolate undertone.