Souverain, North Coast (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Winemaker Ed Killian did an admirable job with what was a difficult challenge in the cool, wet 2011 vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon ripens later than most other grape varieties and caught the autumn rains that bedeviled many vintners. The result for Souverain was a Cabernet that’s not the usual fruit bomb. Though lighter in body than in a normal year, this vintage yielded a solid wine that shows like a young Bordeaux, with an herbal note that complements the wine’s sweet red fruits and spice.