The Data

Country   USA

Appellation   Sonoma Valley

Varietal   Red Blend

Retail Price   $60

ABV   14.3%

Score   4 Stars/91 points

In the Glass

Brilliant, dark ruby color.

The aromatics are intense, offering scents of black currant, dried herbs, and violet with supporting notes of black tea, mineral, and hints of cedar.

The palate confirms the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of boysenberry, red cherry, black plum, and cocoa nibs. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins.

Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent texture.

Cool Factor

We love a well-made Bordeaux-inspired blend that showcases its terroir and the winemaker's sensibility.

Value Grade

At $60 a bottle, it's beyond many wine drinkers' weeknight budgets, but considering the pedigree and the fact that this wine will age very gracefully, we highly recommend it.

Analysis

The Hamel Stratum is a quintessential Bordeaux-style blend created in the Sonoma Valley. It’s the perfect fusion of Old World and New World wine styles that flows effortlessly from the glass. It is made with a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon and 34% Merlot sourced from the Nuns Canyon Vineyard and the Hamel Family Ranch. The construction of the wine is intriguing, having been fermented in 56% neutral French Oak barrels, 30% stainless steel tanks, and 14% concrete eggs. Post fermentation, the wine is aged for 12 months in 72% neutral French Oak casks, 9% new French Oak barrels, and 19% one-year-old French Oak barrels. Then the final blend is allowed to harmonize for five months in concrete tanks before bottling. The 2020 vintage was dry and warm, yielding small berries with a high degree of intensity. The resulting wine is pleasingly complex with no sharp edges and an opulent and supple texture. It’s a luxurious glass of red.

How to Enjoy

Please decant this wine, allowing the complex and nuanced aromatics and flavors to bloom fully. Serve with grilled lamb chops, mushrooms, or merguez sausages.