TOR Vaca Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

TOR Vaca Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 is a powerful, deeply complex, and historically significant addition to Tor Kenward's prestigious lineup, marking the winery's first new vineyard-designated wine in over a decade. Sourced from a dramatic, multi-facing vineyard site planted on sheer basalt stone ridges in the Vaca Mountains overlooking Lake Hennessey, this inaugural bottling pours a dense garnet-purple hue. The highly expressive nose reveals captivating aromas of ripe black cherries, cassis, and fresh boysenberry cordial, beautifully accented by sophisticated undertones of crushed wet stones, graphite, and dried sage. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, structured, and seamlessly concentrated. It masterfully bridges the ripe, opulent dark fruit characteristic of the valley floor with the refined red fruit profile and firm acidity derived from its mountainous elevation. Matured for 20 months in premium French oak barrels, its rich fruit layers are framed by dense, velvety, and sweet old-school tannins that lead into an exceptionally long, mineral-driven finish.

Food Pairing: Pairs magnificently with Texas-style smoked beef brisket, grilled rosemary-crusted ribeye steaks, roasted rack of venison, or slow-braised wild boar sugo over handmade pappardelle pasta.

95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The best value in the Tor lineup—at least for the moment—is the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Vaca Ridge Vineyard, from the east side of Oakville. It includes 15% Cabernet Franc, giving the nose some dried-herb complexity to go with scents of crushed stone and mixed red and black cherries. In the mouth, it's full-bodied and concentrated, supple and rich, with a long, tannic finish.

94 Points - James Suckling

Blackberries and black cherries with black currants. Cedar undertones. Touch of wood. Medium to full body, with juicy fruit and creamy fine tannins that show lovely length. A white pepper and slate undertone. Minerally. New bottling from here. Drink in 2025 and beyond.