Today we share an electric new brand of The Rocks District. Cimento means ‘to try’ or ‘to experiment.’ Seated with investor and Cimento co-founder Dave Wanek he noted “We had a business background and we wanted to build a long-lasting, sustainable business and you have to have talent and a product that is differentiated. Talent is on the farming and winemaking side and that is what makes sustainable business. Having the right team and labor for those to integrate where you have profit margins that you can go through ups and downs during various cycles.”
He continued “As we were looking around property we were looking a business models. We were at Kevin Pogue’s home and we had gotten to know each other at various dinners and events. The commonality of wanting to do something as high of quality if possible, no compromises and do everything right. Have the capital to do it and take a long term view to accomplish it. We planted from a site that was an old cherry orchard. We were looking to buy River Rock and Stone Valley. We were looking at old Cabernet at Stone Valley and it looked beautiful. I called Todd [Alexander] and asked him to go check it out. We tried some Cabernet that had been made from the site. The purity of fruit here I think was astoundingly good. We both thought this could b really special and we forged this partnership of making some wine together. We had bought three different vineyards in the Rocks and we became Cimento that is focused on single vineyard expression of the fruit that is grown there. We love the notion of single vineyard wines, wines that you can’t hide from. But it speaks to how things are made in the rest of the world, the best wines of the world are single vineyard expressions. To me that is what wine is all about and that is what we are doing with this project.”
Winemaker Todd Alexander said that a big emphasis is on farming and the two focal parts are Stone Valley (now renamed San Tomasso) and River Rock which were both purchased in 2021 (now renamed Le Mani). “Everything they have done is thoughtful” said Todd “And there is nothing that is rushed. A winery is being built and we have a thoughtful approach all the way to the winemaking.” He continued “Terroir is real and we believe in it. We look at benchmarks like Jamet and we are influenced by that.”
The new wines were really electric, coming from the 2021 and 2022 vintages. I am enamored by the 2021 Cimento Syrah (OB, 97) which is wonderfully savory and stony. The 2022 Cimento Syrah (OB, 98) shows exotic flavor and aromatic range. It is a total stunner that is already drinking beautifully right now. Learn more at https://www.cimentowines.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Cimento wines.
2021 Cimento Syrah- The 2021 Cimento Syrah underwent 10% whole cluster fermentation, The wine comes form the Le Mani Vineyard in the Rocks District. Stored in 33% new French oak for 18 months this delivers black olive tapenade and smoldering stone alongside Umami and bacon fat notes. The palate is refined and elegant with a smooth mouthfeel and wonderful stony character. The savory character and tart black fruits with beef drippings really adds to the enjoyment. Drink 2024-2034- 97
2021 Cimento Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Cimento Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the San Tomasso Vineyard in the Rocks District. Vines were planted back in 1998. Tobacco leaf and dark currants line the nose alongside shades of coffee grounds and black licorice. Aged in 70% new French oak, this is round and generous on the mouth, with mouth-watering acidity and a beautiful vein of wet gravel. There is nothing quite like this. Very Pauillac-like, and medium to full-bodied showing wonderful freshness, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 96
2021 Cimento Cimentare (1.5L) Malbec- 100% varietal, the 2021 Cimentare is a stunning wine that is unlike anything from this region. Dark chocolate shavings and blueberry compote alongside wet rock and shades of black licorice all mark the nose. The palate is juicy and concentrated with serious stuffing and mouth-watering acidity. Ridiculously good in terms of viscosity and richness, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 97
2022 Cimento Grenache- The 2022 Cimento Grenache comes from the Orselli Vineyard was stored in 50% new French oak before bottling. The wine has a range of clonal selections as well as multiple rootstock and training methods at this site. This is wonderfully pure, showing a light stony essence as well as bright red fruits with citrus rind, blood orange zest, charcuterie and stony minerals. The mouth-watering acidity is astonishingly good. A world-class wine, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 99
2022 Cimento Syrah- The 2022 Cimento Syrah has a knockout nose with Kalamata olive and smoked meats alongside shades of orange peel and wild blackberry compote. The palate is world-class and fresh with serious tension and richness. The energy of the wine is incredible, as the mouth-watering acidity and beef dripping character really impresses. This is very Jamet meets the Rocks. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 98
2022 Cimento Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Cimento Cabernet Sauvignon offers milk chocolate and sagebrush on the nose alongside blackberry compote and shades of anise. The palate is fresh and lively with loads of finesse. Medium-bodied, very fresh and elegant, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 96
2022 Cimento Cimentare (1.5L) Malbec- The outstanding 2022 Cimento Cimentare (1.5L) Malbec is a juicy and also very nervy bottling that was stored in 75% new French oak for 22 months before bottling. Amazing tension greets you with a big mouthfeel upon entry. This is decadent in its core of blue fruits, with graphite and loads of stony minerals. Delicious now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2036- 98