Just as a Director’s Cut presents a filmmaker's vision as purely as possible, this Cabernet is Coppola’s own interpretation of Alexander Valley: rich and powerful, yet simultaneously precise and layered. Notes of dark cherry, blackberry, cedar, and spice are given added depth by the oak, while the valley’s various microclimates provide a surprising amount of tension and freshness.
The grapes are selected from various vineyards within Alexander Valley, an elongated appellation in the north of Sonoma County.
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Location / Origin: Alexander Valley stretches from the cooler south toward the warmer north, offering vastly different conditions within a single appellation. Coppola selects fruit from multiple vineyards to bring these different facets together in one wine.
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Soil: Volcanic soils are found on the eastern slopes, stony clay loam on the west side, and alluvial gravel deposits on the valley floor. This variation gives each individual lot its own combination of fruit intensity, structure, and tension.
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Climate & Influences: The southern vineyards are more strongly influenced by cooling coastal breezes, while the north combines warm days with significantly colder evenings. This allows the Cabernet Sauvignon to ripen fully while still maintaining sufficient natural freshness.
The Director’s Cut series focuses on precise selection and blending, with different vineyard lots contributing individually to the final character.
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Selection & Assemblage: Fruit from different parts of Alexander Valley is assessed separately and subsequently brought together through multiple blending trials. This ensures the final cuvée combines ripe dark fruit with structure, spice, and fresh tension.
Maturation / Oak aging: The wine is aged entirely in a combination of French and American oak, with a significant proportion of new barrels. The wood imparts extra layers of cedar, toast, and spices while simultaneously polishing the powerful tannins.
Cabernet Sauvignon clearly forms the backbone of the 2023 vintage and is complemented by small amounts of other red grapes that provide additional structure and complexity.
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Cabernet Sauvignon – Alexander Valley: Provides cassis, dark cherries, powerful structure, and the firm tannins that give this wine its backbone.
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Petite Sirah – Alexander Valley: Adds deep dark fruit, extra color, and more weight to the mouthfeel.
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Cabernet Franc – Alexander Valley: Brings aromatic refinement, fresh tension, and a spicy lift.
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Petit Verdot – Alexander Valley: Provides extra color, grip, and spicy depth to the finish.
United States
