Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard "Bates Ranch" Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Wine Advocate : 93+ Points

(4/18/2024) The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Bates Ranch is bright, fragrant and classy on the nose. It takes the old-school, rustic charm typical of Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard and gives it a polish. The palate continues the suave nature of the nose with a genteel yet energetic profile and a balanced finish of refined tannins and pleasing acidity. It's delicious and approachable now but will surely reward cellaring over the next decade and beyond. This vintage marks the first release of this site since the 1994 vintage. Drink Date: 2025 - 2035.

Vinous : 93 Points

(10/2024) The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Bates Ranch Vineyard is a shining example of Cabernet in the Santa Cruz Mountains, balancing lifted conifer notes that evoke the evergreen surroundings with saline-driven dark red fruit and bright, mouthwatering acidity. The 2017 Bates excels in its mouthfeel, which is just exceptionally supple and harmonious. The tannins are there, but they absolutely fall in line. This spent 2.5 years in oak, which makes the elegance achieved here even more impressive. A touch of pyrazine-like greenness adds just enough intrigue while the finish fans out and lingers. Drinking Window: 2024 - 2044.