2018 Braxton Hall Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak 'Reserve' Cabernet Sauvignon

In fact, there aren’t even any wineries. The appellation is just too remote; its terrain is just too rugged. But that hasn’t stopped a handful of grape growers and winery owners from understanding the potential of the area, or finding ways to plant grapevines.

Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak begins at an elevation of 1,600 feet and continues up to 3,000 feet. Much of the land is covered in scrub, madrone and oak woodland, interspersed with lush stands of ferns and spring-fed ponds. It comprises 4,600 acres, with 230 planted to grapevines.

The undisputed “king of the mountain” in this special growing area is Cabernet Sauvignon, and Braxton Hall’s 2018 vintage, which includes a small amount of Cabernet Franc in the blend, is a rich and sexy wine from one of Sonoma County’s little-known but highly esteemed growing areas.