Chateau Souverain Alexander Valley Winemaker's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Deeply colored and impressively endowed, the youthful 2003 Souverain Alexander Valley Winemaker's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is already a show stopper and an unequivocal knockout. Once again winemaker Ed Killian has demonstrated why his Cabernets always make every serious critic's "California Dreaming" list of top wines. Heavenly scents of blackberry, cassis, currant, and smooth vanilla oak pour from the glass. On the palate, this pure, medium to full bodied Cabernet comes across as silky smooth, rich, and supremely balanced, even as it promises more with each successive sip and additional year in the bottle. For maximum drinking pleasure, we suggest that Ed Killian's latest masterpiece be drunk cool (64°-68° F) and receive at least a half hour of aeration before consuming. Although this wine is drinking beautifully now, it will continue to improve in bottle for years to come. Enjoy! Anticipated maturity 2007-2015.

Given the smooth, charming nature of the 2003 Souverain Winemaker's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, it can easily serve as its own accompaniment because it brings a hearty welcome wherever it goes. In fact, this exuberant Cabernet could constitute a meal in itself. Nonetheless, it complements lamb, beef, and duck with great aplomb. Rack of Lamb or Braised Lamb Shanks, served with lentils; Rotisserie or Spit Roasted Chicken, brushed with butter, olive oil, and Provencal herbs; and Chateaubriand are just a few of our favorite choices with Ed Killian's huggable Alexander Valley Winemaker's Reserve Cabernet. And for those subscribing to the philosophy that less is more when it comes to accompaniments, we suggest serving only a plate of soft, ripe cheeses with this laudable Cabernet. Camembert, Fontina, and Saint Aubray constitute a few of our favorite cheeses with the 2003 Souverain Winemaker's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, but others will shine as well.

Chateau Souverain has been making award winning wines since 1973. This pioneering property is one of Sonoma County's architectural landmarks, located on a vineyard-covered hillside overlooking California's Alexander Valley. To put it mildly, Souverain possesses some of the nation's finest red wine vineyards. At Chateau Souverain Cabernet is King, but this remarkable winery also fashions exceptional Zinfandel, Merlot, and Petite Sirah as well as a bevy of excellent white wines, including an exceptional Reserve Chardonnay. All of Chateau Souverain's offerings hail from either Alexander Valley or Sonoma County and highlight the special terroir that surround this preeminent estate. Chateau Souverain has always enjoyed a consistent track record in producing exceptional wines, especially when it comes to the estate's two highly acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignons. However, since present winemaker Ed Killian's arrival in 1996, Chateau Souverain's reputation has soared to even greater heights, placing this estate at the forefront of Alexander Valley viticulture. A native of Coachella, California and a graduate enologist from UC Davis, Ed has overseen the maturing of the estate's vineyards and improved the cellar at Chateau Souverain. However, his most noticeable success among consumers has been in establishing Chateau Souverain's Alexander Valley Winemaker's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon as a must buy on every Cabernet collector's short list.