Spring Mountain
The idyllic and mountainous Spring Mountain AVA, reaching up to 640 meters of elevation on the northern and eastern slopes of the Mayacamas range, has always been about rugged individuality and an almost heroic performance from the vines, even in easy-going vintages.
In 2021, however, the vines struggled even more than usual, with little rain to quench their thirst. Yields varied almost block by block and were below average overall.
In nearly all cases, though, quality was exceptional, with growers and winemakers grinning from ear to ear early as the harvest came in.
The intensity of flavours and colours became the hallmarks of the 2021 wines from Spring Mountain, with concentration that’s rare even for the mountain fruit for which this AVA has become legendary.
Scroll down for the top-scoring Spring Mountain & Mt Veeder 2021 Cabernets
{"content":"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"}
-
Spring Mountain & Mt Veeder 2021: the top-scoring Cabernets
{}
{"wineId":"86512","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"85787","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"86552","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"86436","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"85784","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"86316","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"86335","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"86332","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"86346","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"86371","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"86125","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"86137","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"86193","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"86203","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"86209","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"86038","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{}
Related articles
