Aperture 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County

Jesse Katz approaches Cabernet the way a great photographer frames a portrait—every detail intentional, nothing left to chance. The 2022 Aperture Cabernet shows that focus from the first pour.

Sourced from volcanic and gravelly hillside soils in Sonoma County, the fruit is naturally concentrated, the vines working harder for every cluster. That effort shows in the glass—blueberry jam and blackcurrant layered with lilac, violets, and a flicker of tobacco. There’s a mineral thread running through it, something like warm cast iron, giving the wine both weight and definition.

On the palate, it’s plush but never heavy. The tannins are fine-grained and polished, giving shape without austerity. French oak adds quiet spice—enough to frame the fruit, never enough to dominate.

This is Cabernet that takes its time. Each block was chosen and farmed for this bottling, with the final blend built not to mimic Napa’s power but to show Sonoma’s precision. It’s a wine you can drink now for its immediate generosity, or cellar for a few years to let the edges round and the depth deepen.

In Jesse’s hands, Cabernet becomes more than a variety—it’s a study in light, texture, and place. The 2022 is proof that Sonoma can deliver structure and poise without losing its sense of approachability.