South Coast Winery Wild Horse Peak Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (2008)

Where horse thieves & renegades once sought refuge, vines now flourish in the rolling mountain vineyards of Wild Horse Peak.  Those words introduce one to the Cabernet Sauvignon produced by South Coast Winery.  The winery goes on to describe the vineyards in very descriptive terms:

"The overwhelming red soils, granitic outcroppings and steep terrain coupled with outstanding climate conditions define the mountain vineyards of Wild Horse Peak.  At an altitude of over 2,000 feet, these vineyards wrestle with Mother Nature, enduring the circumstances of the environment & yielding a small concentrated crop that is unparalleled in the region."

Those descriptive words are a very good introduction to South Coast Winery's Cabernet Sauvignon.  The grapes from the Wild Horse Peak vineyard were used to produce this wine.  However, I wanted to learn more about the wine.  Apart from the descriptive label on the bottle, information about this wine was very hard to come by. This left me to my own devices, which could be a good thing or a bad thing when it comes to a wine review.

The Cabernet Sauvignon pours a nice dark crimson color, with magenta hues shining through depending on the light.  The aromatic elements are full of fruit, such as ripe cherries, with some raspberry and blackberry in the background.  Those fruit make their way to the taste of the wine, along with a little earthiness or slate.  The most notable feature about the wine is its dryness, with a nice level of tannins to help round out the wine.  

This wine is perfect for red meats, such as grilled beef, lamb or venison.  Two dishes that readily come to mind are the Cowboy Steak in the Prime Style and the Italian Ribeye. It would also work well with some heartier preparations of chicken or pork. Some suggestions include Pollo a las Brassas con Cebollitas and Herb Roasted Pork Sandwiches.  The grilling or roasting of chicken or pork complements the robust nature of this wine.

This wine was a gift to Clare and myself from my parents, who visited the South Coast Winery.  The winery also happens to have a hotel and spa.  There is something about a place where you can take a vacation and sip wine in some relaxing surroundings.  If you are ever near Temecula, California, then you should check out this winery.

ENJOY!