2008 Hidden Ridge 'Impassable Mountain' Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma

(96 Points)  --  (Wine Advocate)

The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon 55% Slope Impassable Mountain Reserve (14.9% alcohol) exhibits a knock-out set of aromatics, including creme de cassis, licorice, barbecue smoke and roasted meats, gorgeous sweetness and sucrosity, a broad, savory, full-bodied mouthfeel, true opulence, velvety tannins, and a blockbuster finish lasting nearly 50 seconds. This magnificent Cabernet Sauvignon should drink well for 20 years. I am not familiar with this terroir, but apparently it is on the Mayacamas Mountain at the Napa/Sonoma county line. There are 21 blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon planted at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 1,700 feet. As one can see from the wine names, this is somewhat like the exercise Schrader does with the different clonal material for the Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard. Here, the winemaker is doing it with degrees of slope. (RP)   Review Date: 12/2013