Klinker Brick Cabernet Sauvignon

Klinker Brick Cabernet Sauvignon is an opulently structured, full-bodied red wine standardly bottled between 14.5% and 15.2% ABV depending on the specific vintage. Crafted by the multi-generational Felten family in the heart of Lodi, California, this release demonstrates that the region's unique climate can produce Bordeaux varietals with immense depth and balance. It consistently earns high praise from top-tier wine critics, securing 92 Points and "Hidden Gem" status from Wine Enthusiast, a 90-point rating from James Suckling, and multiple Gold Medals at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Explicitly engineered with fully mature estate grapes and a disciplined 16-month French oak barrel program, it delivers a deeply layered, rich profile that masterfully champions bold black fruits, sweet baking spices, and fine-grained, mouth-coating tannins.

• Quick Facts: ABV: ~14.5% - 15.2% (Vintage Dependent) | Origin: Lodi AVA (Mokelumne River Sub-Appellation), California, USA | Style: Bold, Structured, and Richly Layered New World Red Wine | Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

The Mokelumne Terroir & Small-Batch Barrel Maturation

• The Sandy Loam Terroir Matrix: The agricultural backbone of this wine is an old 4.5-acre vineyard parcel situated directly behind the winery within the Mokelumne River sub-appellation. The vines are rooted deep into rich Tokay sandy loam soils. This well-draining soil architecture forces the root systems down to look for water, yielding smaller, highly concentrated berries packed with deep color compounds and structural skin tannins.

• The Delta Diurnal Shift: Lodi's signature daytime heat provides the intense sunlight required to fully ripen Cabernet grapes, burning off any green, bell-pepper pyrazines. In the evening, cool air currents from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta sweep through the vineyard rows. This dramatic temperature drop slows down grape development, enabling the fruit to preserve its vital natural acidity and prevent the final wine from tasting flabby or over-cooked.

• The 16-Month French Oak Extraction: Following a meticulous fermentation block in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to capture maximum color extraction, the wine is transferred into select French oak barrels. It slumbers quietly for 16 continuous months. This long wood interaction coaxes out natural oak vanillins, softens the grape's bold structure, and introduces complex layers of baking spices without drowning out the fruit terroir.

Tasting Notes

• Aroma: Pungent, complex, and highly inviting. The bouquet opens with an upfront wave of black cherries, Italian plums, and dark blueberry jam, beautifully supported by secondary top notes of roasted espresso beans, cedar wood, vanilla bean, and a warm hint of clove and star anise.

• Taste: Full-bodied, opulent, and exceptionally velvety on the entry. The palate is treated to an immediate, mouth-coating layer of ripe cassis, dark cocoa, and Mission figs. Across the mid-palate, the fine-grained tannins build a sophisticated structural frame, perfectly balancing the dark-fruited weight against a soft undercurrent of baking spices and a gentle hint of dried violets.

• Finish: Long, silky, and beautifully integrated. The dense black fruit and chocolate profiles taper off gracefully from the throat, leaving behind a dry, satisfying signature of toasted oak, savory herbs, and a trailing, warm exhale of sweet vanilla spice.

How to Appreciate This Bold Cabernet

• The Air Relaxation Ritual: Because this Lodi red features a robust alcohol spine and highly concentrated fruit tannins, it rewards patience. Pour it into a large-bowled Cabernet glass or a crystal decanter and let it breathe for 30 to 45 minutes before serving. This air contact allows the tight wood-spice and cedar aromatics to unfold completely while smoothing out any residual heat.

• The Perfect Cellular Temperature: Serve this expression at a classic European cellar temperature of 60°F to 65°F (15°C to 18°C). If the bottle has been sitting on a warm kitchen counter, drop it into a refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes before pulling the cork; cooling the liquid keeps the high alcohol index beautifully tucked into the rich plum and chocolate fruit matrix.

Best For

• Stocking a home cellar or wine cart with an award-winning, robust California Cabernet that offers exceptional, high-tier structure for its value class.

• Gifting dedicated red wine lovers, steakhouse enthusiasts, and collectors who appreciate the rich, opulent style of bold New World viticulture.

• Serving as the primary red-wine centerpiece for hearty winter dinner parties, celebratory family roasts, and backyard premium steak cookouts.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does Klinker Brick Cabernet Sauvignon taste like? It features an opulent, dark-fruited profile that leads with intense aromas of black cherry, blueberry jam, and baking spices, develops a rich middle marked by ripe plum, dark chocolate, and fine tannins, and finishes with a long, silky wave of vanilla and toasted cedar wood.

• How does this compare to a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon? Napa Valley Cabernets are grown in volcanic, mountainous soils that often yield a highly assertive, muscular structure packed with heavy, intense tannins and bold graphite minerality that can require years of cellar aging to soften. Klinker Brick leverages Lodi’s sandy loam soils and river delta breezes to yield a Cabernet that is instantly more approachable in its youth—showcasing a softer, more generous, and velvety texture packed with dark berries and sweet spices without sacrificing structural longevity.

• Is this wine sweet or dry? It is a completely dry red wine. While its massive concentration of ripe plums, blueberries, and sweet oak vanillins can easily tease the senses into expecting a sweet flavor, the winemaking team ferments out all residual sugars. It behaves with a completely dry, food-friendly finish anchored by ripe grape tannins.

• How long can I cellar this bottle? While it is blended and polished to be thoroughly delicious and expressive the exact moment the cork is pulled today, its robust tannin grid and high fruit concentration give it excellent cellular stamina. Stored on its side in a dark, temperature-controlled cellar, it will easily evolve and improve over the next 5 to 7 years.

• What foods pair well with this expression? The wine’s rich body, bold tannins, and baking-spice notes demand heavy fats, savory proteins, and charred crusts that can match its physical weight. It pairs phenomenally next to a grilled Tomahawk steak, slow-braised beef short ribs, pan-seared venison, or a rich leg of lamb. On a casual menu, it acts as a magnificent companion to a gourmet bacon-and-blue-cheese burger or a hearty pot roast.

Technical Summary & Presentation Geometry

The primary technical advantage of Klinker Brick Cabernet Sauvignon lies in its pairing of an estate-grown, single-subregion Lodi block with a classic 16-month French oak maturation cycle and an uncompromised 100% varietal purity tracking. Packaged in a traditional, heavy-shouldered 750ML Bordeaux-style glass bottle with a clean, classic label layout displaying the family's iconic klinker-brick texture motif, this format ensures excellent aging conditions under its natural wood cork. This disciplined production methodology guarantees an unctuous fluid density, a velvet-like mouthfeel, and a clean sweet-to-savory tracking that industrially accelerated bulk commercial blends cannot duplicate. It stands securely as a premier standard-bearer for Lodi's diverse viticultural potential, universally trusted by sommeliers for bringing exceptional New World richness straight to contemporary tables.

Specifications

• Type/Classification: Bold New World Red Wine (100% Cabernet Sauvignon)

• Product of: Lodi AVA (Mokelumne River Sub-Appellation), California, USA

• Volume Options: Packaged standardly in the elegant 750ML retail format

• ABV: ~14.5% - 15.2% (Vintage Dependent)

• Grape Architecture: 100% Hand-Selected Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

• Maturation Protocol: 16 Months inside Premium French Oak Barrels

• Notable Accolades: 92 Points & Hidden Gem (Wine Enthusiast), 90 Points (James Suckling), Gold Medal (SF Chronicle Wine Competition)

• Brand/Winery: Klinker Brick Winery