Far Mountain
Montecillo Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Sonoma Valley
The Montecillo vineyard is one of California’s most historic sites, first planted in 1860. This Cabernet Sauvignon reflects the vineyard’s high elevation, volcanic soils, dry-farming, organic viticulture, and pioneering spirit. Refined and complex, it honors over a century of resilience and innovation at Montecillo, embodying the enduring legacy of California winemaking.
VINEYARD
Dry-farmed on red, rocky volcanic soils at the northern end of the Mayacamas, 1,400 to 1,800 feet AGL.
WINEMAKING
Guided by a deep understanding of Montecillo’s rocky site and its inherent tannin structure, the winemaking team applies a gentle, precise approach in the cellar to reveal the vineyard’s true character. Grapes are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness and carefully destemmed to preserve whole berries and minimize oxidation.
VINTAGE
The 2022 Moon Mountain vintage was shaped by limited rainfall, leading to a slightly earlier harvest and lower yields. This resulted in intensely concentrated flavors and deep color. Consistent summer weather preserved acidity, ensuring freshness and balance in the wines. The combination of ripe fruit, structure, and vibrancy suggests wines with both immediate appeal and strong aging potential. Overall, 2022 delivered a powerful yet well-balanced vintage with great depth.
TASTING NOTE
Intense black-violet color with excellent depth. Expressive aromas on the nose bursting with alpine berries, violet, and forest floor; firm mountain tannins frame a long, vibrant finish.
FOOD PAIRING
Grilled ribeye or lamb chops, wild mushroom risotto
Color
Red
Blend %
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Sonoma Valley
Reviews
Decanter - December 16, 2024 "Beautiful forest aromas beguile from the Far Mountain Montecillo Cabernet, perched nearly 2,000 ft (600m) along the ridge that divides the Napa and Sonoma appellations. Bergamot and fir tips, wild blue alpine berries, a touch of forest floor, and a bassline of gorgeous sweet violets. The palate is subtle and beautifully integrated. Sweet huckleberries, pine sap, mint leaves, and a dash of wild alpine herbs. This is a Cabernet of place, refinement and elegance."
Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
Amotus Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California
Fission is a wine of texture, with the intensity and concentration we associate with old vines. It builds into powerful tannins that remain refined, almost cloaked by the seductiveness of the fruit and the gently building structure. The name Fission was ultimately chosen to reference the textural and mineral characteristics that the unique volcanic soil brings to this wine.
Bresa Chardonnay
Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California
Bresa Chardonnay is a wine of substance, grown from the oldest block of Bald Mountain Vineyard, planted in 1972 with Wente clones on fractured volcanic rock. This single-parcel, dry-farmed site yields just one barrel, producing a wine of depth, tension, and dazzling clarity. Far Mountain is rooted in the belief that the most profound wines come from remote mountain sites in Sonoma. Their growers have taken decades of risk, and the winery channels that drama into wines of energy, texture, and endless fascination.
Fission Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California
Fission is a wine of texture, with the intensity and concentration we associate with old vines. It builds into powerful tannins that remain refined, almost cloaked by the seductiveness of the fruit and the gently building structure. The name Fission was ultimately chosen to reference the textural and mineral characteristics that the unique volcanic soil brings to this wine.
Myrna Chardonnay
Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California
Myrna combines Bald Mountain’s surprisingly delicate floral notes that move quickly to ripe yellow and more exotic fruits with salty, lime and green fruit-inflected notes from Thornton Vineyard. The sappy texture of the wine makes its presence felt, and this grows into a more defined and powerful structure with layers of spice persisting through the finish.
