2018 Alfaro Family 'Bates Ranch' Cabernet Sauvignon

The Alfaro family makes some of our most crucial staples here at Vintage Berkeley: fairly priced, thoughtfully farmed, fresh wines gushing with that special Santa Cruz Mountain terroir we adore. Richard Alfaro and his wife Mary Kay shifted gears from life in the restaurant biz to the world of wine in 1997 when they purchased a decrepit 75 acre apple orchard in Corralitos. There they founded Alfaro Family Vineyards & Winery, planting 60 acres of vines and proceeded to make loads of great wine & raise a family! These days, Richard spends his time amongst these vines, managing the farming at home and at other primes sites sprinkled throughout Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Mountain AVAs. And as for the cellar work, he’s passed the reins onto his son, Ryan. Ryan, who studied wine at both Davis and University of Auckland, trained in Dijon and worked under the legendary Adam Tolmach of Ojai Vineyards, brings a fresh attitude, a youthful energy and an altogether lighter touch to the Alfaro wines. This Bates Ranch Cab is no exception, it's an elegant brooding beauty; medium-bodied, rich with bing cherry, juicy plum and black currant plus subtle hints of cedar and spice. It’s richly textured and bold without knocking you over the head. This wine pairs perfectly with a steak dinner but it’s gentle enough to enjoy on its own too, pop a bottle, sit outside and watch the leaves turn.