Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon
Amid the endless ink spilled, points bestowed, and hype created around Cabernet in Rutherford, it’s easy to lose focus on a simple question: why grow Cabernet Sauvignon? For Frog’s Leap, the answer is clear: When grown with care and made with honesty, Cabernet is capable of the highest expression of terroir in Rutherford.
Cabernet’s beauty lies in its incredible aromatic range as well as the famous power supplied by its ample tannin and acidity. Our Cabernet seeks to express every element of this aromatic constellation—flavors ranging from black fruit to savory herbs and everywhere in between: dried sage, flowers, pepper, earth, olive, mocha, graphite, tobacco and cedar, with no single aroma seeking to dominate the others. Cabernet Franc helps to both draw out this dynamic varietal character from the Cabernet Sauvignon and add dimension to its power. Its inclusion is a hallmark of our blend.
We limit our plantings of Cabernet to benchland soils that provide the ideal balance of drainage and soil fertility; less than one-third of our acreage meets our standards for Cabernet. Thirty-one distinct picks across three estate vineyards enable us to take full advantage of the site-to-site expressiveness supplied by our commitment to dry farming. Our expert in-house vineyard team navigates the interplay of sunlight and shade on the grapes that is crucial to preserving natural acidity. In the cellar, moderate extraction and judicious use of new oak complement a balanced, restrained approach to Cabernet that enables it to transcend all the noise around the variety, and simply taste like home.