Today’s Story: Corison Winery
Corison Winery is a small, family-operated farm and winery founded in 1987 when Cathy Corison started purchasing Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from vineyards between Rutherford and St. Helena. In 1995, Cathy and her husband William purchased Kronos Vineyard which afforded them the ability to construct a winery on this century-plus-old farm with and have their own estate vineyard. In 1999, Cathy and William broke ground on their winery (which William designed in a Victorian barn style) and today it can be seen off the St. Helena Highway in Napa Valley. Corison later expanded in 2015 with the purchase of the Sunbasket Vineyard, which is close to the existing winery and was a source of Corison fruit for more than 25 years prior. Throughout her winemaking, Cathy is largely non-interventionist which allows the wines to showcase their unique place while being both elegant and powerful at the same time.
Today’s Wine: 2008 Kronos Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
100% Cabernet Sauvignon; 13.8% ABV
The 2008 Kronos Vineyard Cab is medium ruby in color and moderately opaque. This was singing out of the bottle and the nose showcases aromas of cherry, redcurrant, blackberry, underbrush, saddle leather, truffle, loamy earth, wet gravel, and black pepper. Once in the mouth, the wine displays notes of blackberry, plum, black cherry, black raspberry, tobacco, scorched earth, slate, green herbs, and a hint of oak. This is medium- to full-bodied with medium (+) acidity, medium integrated tannins, and a long finish.
Price: $280. I’ve known the legend of Cathy Corison’s wines but this is actually my first bottle. This was a true treat and was an exceptional wine drinking insanely well right now. Pair this with filet mignon, herb-roasted lamb, portobello mushrooms, or assorted cheeses.
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