2015
PreVail Back Forty
Alexander Valley
93 pts, The Wine Advocate! The grapes for this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon are grown on low-yielding vines on a 40-acre, 1,100-foot elevation vineyard at the back side of Ferrari-Carano’s RockRise Mountain in Alexander Valley.
$150
$120 Wine Club - Join
93 Points, The Wine Advocate
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, - See Review
92 Points, Wine Spectator
James Laube, - See Review
Gold, 95 pts. Medal, 2019 Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge
90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Aromas & Flavors
This wine has a delicious array of intense aromas and flavors including blackberry, cassis, dark chocolate, jammy berries, cherries, nutmeg, brown sugar, leather, vanilla, cedar and spice. This full-bodied wine has a long, rich finish and smooth, mouth-coating tannins.
Food Pairings
Back Forty pairs well with roasted, broiled or barbequed red meats such as lamb, beef, pork or veal. Medium and strong-flavored semi-soft, semi-hard, aged or creamy cheeses work well, or pair Back Forty with a dark chocolate dessert for a special treat.
How It's Made
French clone 337 was selected specifically for Back Forty because of its small berry size and rich tannins. The grapes are sorted and destemmed, and upon entering the winery, gravity fed directly into oak and stainless steel tanks for three days of cold soaking. Following the cold soak, yeast is added and pump overs commence, one to two times daily, for the duration of primary fermentation. Once fermentation is complete, the wine is drained to French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation, aged in the wine caves for 21 months, and then bottled in August, 2017.
The Vintage
Our mountain vines are grown in shallow, rocky, low-vigor soils that add impressive depth and concentration of flavors to the wine. A dry winter led to early bud break with unfavorable weather during bloom that disrupted the pollination process and resulted in a reduction of crop yields. Spring and summer were warm and dry, and the first grapes were harvested a week and a half earlier than the previous year, making it one the earliest harvests ever. With reduced yields and plenty of warm sunshine to ripen the grapes, this year’s wines are concentrated in aromas and flavors, and display great color and balanced tannins.
Welcome to Ferrari-Carano!
We are currently open for wine tasting, reserve your table today on Il Terrazzo, our outdoor terrace overlooking the vineyards, or in our Sycamore Grove surrounded by beautiful gardens.
We look forward to hosting you soon!
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