Aperture Cellars
Del Rio Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Alexander Valley
2023
Vintage
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV
Where it is, June 2026
Too Young: holding.
In May 2026 the 2023 Del Rio Cabernet Sauvignon is firmly in its pre-peak phase, several years away from its ideal drinking window which opens around 2028 and hits its stride through the 2030s. The tannins remain assertive and the wine shows the concentration of youth, with fruit that is ripe but not yet fully resolved into the seamless whole it will become. Those who open a bottle now should decant for a full two hours to coax the aromatics open and give the tannins room to soften. The patience invested will be rewarded: this wine has the structure and raw material to age beautifully for two decades or more, and the mineral tension that runs through the finish suggests it will gain tremendous complexity over time.
The ‘23 Del Rio Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.
A precise, concentrated Alexander Valley Cabernet built on graphite, black cherry and mineral tension, with the structure and depth to age gracefully into the 2040s.
Drinking window
Tasting note
The 2023 Aperture Cellars Del Rio Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley arrives with a deep, saturated garnet color and a nose of considerable complexity. Blackcurrant and black cherry lead the way, joined by dark chocolate shavings, graphite and a hint of walnut husk that signals serious structure. Black raspberry adds a lifted top note that prevents the wine from feeling too weighty on the nose. On the palate the wine is concentrated and polished, with chewy but fine-grained tannins providing a sturdy scaffold for the layered fruit. Dark berry richness dominates the mid-palate before mineral tension and fresh acidity emerge to tighten the line heading into a long, complex finish. The finish carries notes of graphite and cedar that linger well past the last sip, marking this as a wine of genuine collector interest. Aperture's focus on precision and site expression is evident throughout, with the Del Rio Vineyard imparting a distinct mineral signature that separates this bottling from broader Alexander Valley expressions. This is a wine built for the long haul, and every element points toward a rewarding future.
The 2023 vintage
The 2023 vintage in Alexander Valley and the broader Sonoma Coast was shaped by a cool, wet spring that extended the growing season and preserved natural acidity in the fruit. Summer heat was moderate and well-distributed, and an extended hang time through September and October allowed Cabernet Sauvignon to achieve full phenolic ripeness without sacrificing freshness. The resulting wines show exceptional concentration balanced by lively acidity, a combination that points toward long-term aging potential. Alexander Valley producers were particularly pleased with the consistency of 2023 across their Cabernet blocks.
About Aperture Cellars
Aperture Cellars was founded by Jesse Katz, who built his reputation through stints at some of California's most acclaimed estates before establishing his own label with an uncompromising focus on site-driven Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc from Alexander Valley. The Del Rio Vineyard bottling represents the top of Aperture's single-vineyard range, sourced from a site Katz has long championed for its mineral complexity and distinctive expression. The winery's aesthetic is one of precision and restraint, letting the vineyard speak without cosmetic winemaking intervention.
From the cellar: pair with
Bone-in ribeye with compound butter and roasted garlic
The wine's concentrated dark fruit and chewy tannins are a natural partner for well-marbled beef, and the compound butter mirrors the cedar and dark chocolate notes on the finish.
Braised oxtail with root vegetables
The slow-braised collagen-rich meat softens the wine's assertive tannins while the wine's mineral tension cuts through the richness of the braise.
Aged Manchego and marcona almonds
The graphite and walnut husk notes in the wine echo the nuttiness of the cheese, making for a surprisingly precise pairing.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 17-18C / 63-64F
- Decanting
- Decant for a minimum of 90 minutes, ideally two hours. The wine is young and concentrated, and extended air exposure is essential to allow the tannins to relax and the aromatic layers to unfold. Use a wide-bottomed decanter and pour with a gentle splash to encourage opening.
- Cellar Storage
- 12-14C / 54-57F
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More from Alexander Valley
Frequently Asked
When will the 2023 Del Rio Cabernet be at its best?
The drinking window opens around 2028 and the wine is expected to hit its peak between 2032 and 2046. Those with patience will be rewarded with a much more complete and complex wine than what is available today.
How does Del Rio Vineyard differ from Aperture's other Cabernets?
Del Rio is a single-vineyard bottling that showcases the specific mineral signature and dark-fruit character of that Alexander Valley site. It tends to be more structured and age-worthy than Aperture's broader Alexander Valley bottlings.
Is the 2023 good to drink now?
It is drinkable now with an extended decant of two hours, but it is genuinely young and most of its potential is still locked in the tannin structure. Waiting until 2028 or later will yield a significantly more rewarding experience.
What is the expected aging trajectory?
The wine should develop beautifully through the late 2030s, reaching its plateau around 2032-2046 before beginning a slow decline. It has the structure and acidity to remain compelling well into the 2050s.