Description

Ironstone Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Ironstone Vineyards is a family-owned winery rooted in California’s historic Sierra Foothills, a region celebrated for winemaking since the Gold Rush and designated an AVA in 1987. The Kautz family, who began farming in Lodi after emigrating from Germany in 1940, transitioned into premium grape growing under John Kautz in 1968, establishing a reputation for quality and innovation. In 1988, John and Gail Kautz, alongside their children, founded Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys, releasing their first vintage in 1989 and later expanding with the acquisition of Bear Creek Winery in 1997. Over the years, the family has grown its holdings to 7,000 acres across Lodi and the Sierra Foothills, pioneering Chardonnay plantings and sustainable practices such as integrated pest management. Today, Ironstone’s vineyards in Calaveras County’s mineral-rich volcanic soils produce a diverse range of varietals, continuing the family’s legacy of excellence and stewardship.

Family

In 1926, the Kautz family began farming in the Lodi region and in 1958, John Kautz Farms was founded. In 1988, John and his wife Gail, along with their children, Stephen, Kurt, Joan and Jack, built a state-of-the-art winery and entertainment facility in the town of Murphys, the heart of the Gold Rush era, producing their first vintage in 1989. They followed this purchase with Bear Creek, one of the oldest continuously running wineries in Lodi, in 1997. Their vineyard holdings grew exponentially over the next 30 years, to 7,000 acres in both the Sierra Foothills and Lodi. Ironstone’s location in Calaveras County, affectionately known as the “Queen of the Sierras,” boasts mineral-rich, volcanic terroir, ideal for growing the wide range of varieties that run the gamut, from Chenin Blanc to Zinfandel.

Vinification

The grapes were picked at their peak and delivered to the winery after being selected by the winemaker. After undergoing extended fermentation and maceration, the wine was transferred into small oak barrels and aged in our underground caverns for 20 months to ensure a fuller, richer, finer wine of true varietal character.

Viticulture

We hand selected ultra-premium grapes from our Hay Station Ranch vineyard located at 2400 ft. above sea level, where warm days are cooled by the evening mountain air. While 85% of the grapes came from this vineyard, we also selected 15% from a vineyard that has unique soil of decomposed granite mixed with volcanic sediment and red clay produce a wonderful mineral component. Grapes have been grown, in the Sierra Foothills for 150 years.

Tasting Notes

Silky tannins and well-structured aromas of fresh berries with cassis, black currants, black cherries and toasted oak create a magical harmony of gorgeous fruit characteristics. This single vineyard Cabernet is the embodiment of elegance, rich with flavor and unique mineral qualities

Ironstone Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Notes to Your Senses:

• APPEARANCE: Deep garnet
• AROMA: Expressive aromas of ripe blackberry, cassis, and dark cherry layered with notes of cedar, vanilla, cocoa, and subtle baking spice
• TASTE: Full-bodied and structured, offering concentrated flavors of black currant, plum, and mocha supported by firm yet polished tannins and balanced acidity
• FINISH: Long, smooth finish marked by lingering dark fruit and a touch of spice
• ABV: 14.5%