Alexander Valley · USA
2023 Aperture Cellars 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.
- Varietal
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Region
- Alexander Valley
- Vintage
- 2023
Drinking Window
In 2026: Too YoungHolding. Drinking window opens in 2028.
Right now: 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.
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.
Food Pairings
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
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.
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