William Knuttel Dry Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Bill Knuttel spent decades perfecting the sought-after wines of some of Sonoma’s top wineries, like Saintsbury and Chalk Hill. But for the past several years, this former president of the California Cabernet Society has been focusing on his own brand – and this barrel-aged exclusive shows he’s still on a roll.

Like all of our winemaker friends in California, Bill had his pick of premium grapes in 2017 (a vintage Wine Enthusiast describes as “excellent”). Hand-harvested from top-sited, steep-sloped vineyards on the west side of Sonoma’s sought-after Dry Creek Valley, the wine was partially barrel fermented, and then aged a further luxurious 21 months in French oak barrels. Bill wisely bottled the wine unfined for maximum flavor impact.

Look forward to rich flavors of dried cherry, cassis, and spicy vanilla oak, with fine-grained tannins and a super-smooth finish. “I recommend heartier food with my 2017 Cab,” says Bill. “Especially roasted or grilled meats and pasta dishes.”

Ever the stickler for quality, Bill produced limited cases of this exclusive Cab – and with 2017 fast-becoming one of the most talked about vintages in recent California history, we recommend you order soon.