LAST CALL: 99-Pt Vintage Paso Cabernet—Under $20! (57% OFF!!)

91 points from james suckling saying:
"Lucid black olives and tobacco leaf on top of blackcurrants, spices and some chili chocolate. A medium-bodied and smoothly rendered cabernet blend showing fine, chalky tannins and a juicy, elegant finish."

winemaker's notes:
"76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec. All fruit from Derby Vineyard in the Templeton Gap District. Aged for 32 months in 35% new French Oak."

backgorund:
From planting a vineyard where no one thought grapes would grow to purchasing a building that would take 4 years and a small fortune to restore, Ray & Pam Derby have never shied away from a project they saw as worth-while, no matter how difficult it seemed to be. They bought their first vineyard with the intention of settling into an easy routine of growing and selling the fruit to local winemakers. Fast forward 20 years and Derby Wine Estates has 3 vineyards, supplies many local winemakers with high quality fruit, and produces a number of award-winning wines under their own Estate label.

Each of their 3 vineyards has its own viticultural challenges and advantages. Between all 3 they have over 440 planted acres with more than 20 unique varietals, and several different clones within varietals. It’s not an easy task for their Vineyard Manager to monitor the cultivation of each varietal, while jumping back and forth between the different climate conditions, soil composition and eco system influences in each vineyard.