2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Klasse Reserve
Tasting notes
Blackberry, dark cherries, cassis, mocha, crushed violets, and hints of dried citrus peel. Swirling brings sandalwood, coffee bean, fig paste, and a touch of black tea. The mouthfeel is soft and round, with tons of black fruit, baking spices, and notes of graphite and tobacco leaf. Medium-to-full-bodied, the texture and structure here are remarkable, showing fine grain tannins and outstanding acidity. Pure and mineral, the wine finishes long, with savory nuances and touch of red fruit sweetness. Drink now or in the next 20+ years.
Stainless steel and barrel fermented, with extended maceration. Aged in new and neutral French oak barrels for 24 months.
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Varietal Composition | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Vineyard | Conner Lee, Laura Lee, and Solaksen |
| Alcohol | 14.80% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Cases Produced | 121 |
97 pts - Decanter
96 pts - Jeremy Young, Int’l Wine Report
94 pts - Owen Bargreen
94 pts - Eric Guido, Vinous
93 pts - Sean Sullivan
Gård Vintners wines are 100% estate grown sustainably at Lawrence Vineyards, featuring 14 distinct vineyard sites. With elevations that range 870 feet to 1,675 feet and primarily south-facing slopes, Lawrence Vineyards provide a great framework for grape production, while the diversity of each of the locations delivers a high level of complexity to Gård wines. Lawrence Vineyards is certified sustainable.
MATÍAS KÚSULAS
Winemaker & Viticulturist
A Chilean with Greek roots, Matías was a Marine officer and Naval Engineer in Chile for more than seven years when he realized that it was time to change the course of his career: In 2005, he started studying Agricultural Engineering at the University of Chile, where he graduated with distinction and a major in Viticulture and Enology. He worked in Chile for a few years and in 2011 he decided to start traveling the world on a quest to learn new wine-making techniques. After several harvests in Oceania, Europe and Africa, he settled down in France, to do his post degrees at the Universities of Bordeaux and Montpellier. He also performed for two years as a Maître de Chai for one of the oldest and most reputable wineries in Condrieu and Côte-Rôtie.
After years of traveling and over 15 harvests, he came to the United States and joined Gård Vintners/Lawrence Vineyards as a Production Winemaker and Viticulturist, and is currently head winemaker for Gård Vintners, Desert Wind Winery, Valo Cellars, and his own label, Massalto. In his spare time he likes to jump out of planes and is a Judo Black Belt.
