Several years back I had the chance to chat with Jesse Katz, the talented winemaker who started one of the great ultra-premium Malbec programs in North America, Devil Proof. Jesse is a down to earth guy who has worked winemaking jobs spanning the globe including harvests at Pétrus in Bordeaux, as well as time on the winemaking teams at Screaming Eagle Winery and Robert Foley Winery in Napa Valley, and Viña Cobos and Bodega Noemia in Argentina. He was named head winemaker at Lancaster in 2010. Wine Enthusiast named Jesse one of its 40 Under 40 Tastemakers and he was also the first winemaker on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. More recently in August 2019 Jesse announced that he will be opening up Aperture Cellars as their custom-designed hospitality center and modern winery opening on Old Redwood Highway in Healdsburg, CA in spring 2020 which will be very exciting for the region.
Jesse’s new wines were gorgeous across the board. His 2017 Aperture Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 94) has tremendous richness and poise with deep dark fruit and chocolate flavors that makes it irresistible in its youth. Learn more about this great new winery at https://www.aperture-cellars.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Aperture.
2017 Aperture Cellars Red Wine- The 2017 Aperture Red Wine is a dense combination of 52% Malbec and 48% Merlot and that was aged aged 18 months in 50% new oak prior to bottling. Entirely sourced from the Sonoma Valley, they Aperture Red Wine opens with bright Bing ichehrry and briar aromatics that meld with shades of nutmeg and damp earth that all collect momentum in the glass. The plush texture entices as deep red fruits that mingle with the prune and chocolate flavors that mingle with minerals. Drink 2019-2029- 93
2017 Aperture Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 Aperture Cabernet Sauvignon shows off its inky color, unveiling deep dark fruits and chocolate fudge aromatics that come together in the glass. The palate is dense and decadent, showing a wonderful tension and viscosity as graphite, creme de cassis, anise and Turkish coffee flavors all collide with a great sense of minerality. Outstanding in its youth, this sensational new wine will cellar well for the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2033- 94