2021 Round Pond Cabernet Sauvignon Gravel Series Secret Garden

Part of the same Gravel Series as the winery's The Vow and Scholar's Gate bottlings, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Secret Garden comes from an Oakville vineyard. With the same aging regimen—85% new French oak for 20 months—the big difference is the location. Interestingly, the reported alcohol is the highest of the three wines (15.1%), while the reported pH is the lowest (3.75). Scents of pencil shavings and blackberries dominate the nose, while the full-bodied palate is a bit coarser and grainier in feel than the Rutherford examples, yet it's still tightly knit and seemingly age-worthy.