2021 Stuhlmuller Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Alexander Valley 750 ml

There’s no substitute for terroir, and Stuhlmuller Vineyards sits in one of the most coveted sections of Alexander Valley.

It enjoys a special combination of river benchland gravels and very rocky hillsides—a perfect habitat for Cabernet Sauvignon. Fritz Stuhlmuller has long supplied grapes to Alexander Valley icons like Jordan and another BIG steakhouse superstar we can’t name—but he keeps the best blocks for his own wines…and he’s picky. Only the top 7% of his grapes made it into his Estate Cabernet in 2021. As a result, the Estate Cab offers UNHEARD-OF value—which is why Stuhlmuller was our top-selling Sonoma Cabernet of 2023. 

Alexander Valley Cabernet is as essential to the American steakhouse as the steak itself, so if you’re like us—the head chef of your own at-home chophouse—you’ve found your house Cab. Pour yourself a big glass to prime the pump while you sear those flatirons this summer and fall, and repeat until the meal is just a lovely memory.

The 2021 is showing beautifully right now: Blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, and raw cocoa notes lift from the glass initially, followed by an interplay of earthy soil, dried violet, and crushed bay leaf. It’s rich and satisfying yet balanced on the palate, with spicy oak tones playing a supporting role to the concentrated fruit. 

They’re five minutes down the road from Jordan Vineyards and ten minutes from Stonestreet, but Stuhlmuller remains one of the best-kept secrets in Sonoma. We taste a lot of Cab around here, and rarely is there this much fruit and complexity in the glass for the money.