Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Handcrafted from a singular site, where patience, precision and place define every bottle.

Grower Notes

2022 kept everyone on their toes. A season that started with promise turned into a high stakes game of timing, instinct, and nerve. Winter rains replenished the vineyard, and a near perfect spring and summer let the vines cruise comfortably toward harvest. Then, just as the fruit approached the finish line, an intense early September heatwave pushed temperatures into overdrive, forcing quick decisions and steady hands in the vineyard. We took a Maverick approach. Stay calm, trust the vineyard, and do not rush the moment. Picked after the heat broke, the fruit showed resilience, depth, and composure. Sometimes the best move is knowing when to hold your line.

Tasting Notes

In the glass, it is deep, dark, and unapologetically bold. Aromas rise with confidence. Blackberry, cassis, and dark cherry lead into smoky herbs, cracked pepper, and wild thyme, followed by notes of worn leather, crushed stone, and mocha. On the palate, it flies with precision and power. Woody blackberries, dark cherry, and tobacco drive the core, wrapped in dark chocolate and subtle spice. There is lift from cranberry and pomegranate, while a thread of minerality and soft floral notes keep everything in balance. The tannins are broad, polished, and commanding, carrying through a long, seamless finish with hints of cacao and gentle oak. This is a wine that does not just handle pressure, it owns it. Confident, controlled, and built to stand apart.

Grower Notes

The 2021 growing season was framed by a unusually dry winter, with rainfall measuring less than one-third of average. Vines, stressed yet focused, produced tiny, flavor-packed berries, naturally limiting yields and amplifying character. A warm even summer unfolded without major heat spikes, and a long, gentle fall allowed harvest at the ideal moment.

Tasting Notes

The result? A wine that feels composed and confident. In the glass, the wine shimmers with a dark violet core and brilliant clarity, like a gemstone forged under pressure. The nose opens with a kaleidoscope of blackberry, cassis, pomegranate, spices and cracked pepper, layered over notes of Yellowstone saddle leather and dark chocolate. The palate is equally commanding — plush, velvety, yet sculpted, with layers of tobacco, Luxardo cherry and gentle oak. Firm and polished tannins and a long, graceful finish hint at decades of aging potential.

In a region accustomed to acclaim, it takes something truly remarkable to stand apart—and the 2021 vintage of Linked Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon does exactly that. Born from adversity and sculpted by precision, this wine is a masterclass in balance, intensity, and finesse. It demands attention not with opulence alone, but with a kind of quiet brilliance - it’s just that good!

Grower Notes

The skies clouded, and then opened, in winter of 2019, gifting us with copious amounts of water before the vines started to grow, and then even a bit more after they were on their way.  By the time the vines were flowering though, the sun was shining and we were getting the beautiful temperatures that make this area such a fantastic place to grow wine grapes!  Cool foggy mornings and warm days carved a path for slow phenolic maturation, allowing abundant hang time for the fruit, creating this amazing wine!

Tasting Notes

The 2019 Linked Vineyards Cabernet is more intellectual than overtly sexy.  It has our signature deep, dark and vibrant color.  The aromas start softly and blossom into ripe fruit (raspberry, huckleberry and dewberry) and the earthy goodness of a roasted Hamakua mushroom, with faint floral hints of Plumeria.  Flavors are mixed, subtle and even somewhat mystifying.  The wine carries notes of bright bramble fruit, dark chocolate, candied orange peel, Kona coffee and caramelized molasses.  Traces of Mr. Roarke’s soft Corinthian leather add depth and complexity. It is a wine with big, squishy (OK…. let’s go huggable) tannins that will drink well for quite some time to come!

Grower Notes

Sometimes, our incredibly small team has to run, and sometimes, we get a more leisurely pace.  Mother Nature allowed us to saunter through the 2018 vintage rather than race.  A near picture-perfect growing season rolled from March right through to October, with no frost or extreme heat, and just enough of a fall rain to knock the dust off of the grapes before harvest.  All of this easy living allowed the fruit almost two months, from veraison to harvest, to develop flavor and complexity.  The slow and steady vibe set the stage for a wine of energy, expression and life that only Drew, Jessica and Luc (along with Mother Nature and our vineyard) could create.

Tasting Notes

Rich, deep and polished, the 2018 is loaded with the special characters of our vineyard. A whole range of black fruit and spices build as this sumptuous Cabernet shows off its nuanced personality. Intriguing aromas of fresh and preserved berries and black currants mingle with softer notes of sweet tobacco and cedar. Velvety texture and a restrained oak framework support the opulent flavors of blackberry, Luxardo cherry, cassis and a hint of smoked meats.  It is remarkably full-bodied and explosive yet shows finesse and refinement. Enjoy now and over its decades long evolution.

Grower Notes

Forget all that happened in 2017, let the wine speak for itself and the vintage, and just enjoy a beautiful bottle of wine. But that would deprive you of our stellar tasting notes and our witty storytelling, so here it goes.  It was a year of extremes, lots of rain in the winter, then fluctuating high and low temperatures through spring and summer.  It looked to be a late harvest until a few very warm days around Labor Day kicked ripening into gear.  We picked on October 4th, our earliest ever!  As the saying goes, timing is everything, because four days later the devastating Tubbs fire raged through our property and claimed the remaining fruit.  We will be forever thankful that our damage was so minimal, saddened by the losses of our neighbors, and proud of the resilience of our community.

Tasting Notes

From adversity comes strength!  The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is precocious and, dare we say, perfection in the glass.  Pretty even to look at, the color is a stunning dark rose, and blazingly vibrant.  Breathe the seductive perfume of wild blackberries, black currants, wildflowers and delicate clove that lure you in a bit further.  Then sip and savor the luscious tannins and a pallet layered with flavors of rich black cherry pie, spices, exquisitely balanced coffee and chocolate.  This wine has power and presence yet shows grace and charm that make it enjoyable today.  Drink it now, or see how it ages and evolves, if you have the willpower to wait.

Grower Notes

Farmers love to talk about how things were way back when, like how 1997 was a spectacular vintage in Sonoma and Napa.  Now, Linked Vineyards wasn’t even a concept back then, but history is known to repeat, and we really couldn’t have asked for better weather than we were handed in 2016!  It was very similar to 1997.  Ample late winter rain filled the soil with water, and warm days pushed an early budbreak.  High temperatures in spring oscillated between the mid-80’s and low-60’s, and summer got just a little bit warmer.  There were no boiling hot or freakishly cold days and vines were happy and growing strong!  Late summer was cool, allowing ripening at a leisurely pace, and mild heat in the end of September gave a perfect nudge into harvest.

Tasting Notes

The 2016 Linked Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon has a beautiful deep garnet/purple color. The nose is intense and explosively rich with cranberry, black cherry and pomegranate, with touches of black pepper, earthy mineral and just a hint of thyme. Dark chocolate, layered with cassis, blackberry, black cherry compote and leather burst through the plush tannins to create a mouthfeel and palate that extend into an epic, rich, sexy finish! This wine has the body of Marilyn Monroe with curves in all the right places! Our advice… when Covid is over, bring this stunner to any dinner party and folks will know you’re a wicked smart wine connoisseur, someone in the know, sharing an exceptional wine from a tiny family producer in the lesser-known Knights Valley AVA.  Within moments they’ll think you’re the next Robert Parker.

Grower Notes

Frank captures the all-in spirit of Linked Vineyards!  Every year they dive in with energy and excitement for a new vintage, and every year they learn more about the vineyard, about farming, about the wine.  This year, the vineyard taught Drew a little lesson about hillside farming and gravity, when on the first spray of the season he rolled his equipment!  Insert many swear words at high volume here.  Modified plans and help from friends (part of those ever important “links” that make Linked Vineyards special) put the farming back on track.

Tasting Notes

The season started warm, quickly bringing vines out of dormancy, and then just as quickly got cool and wet during flowering.  This set the stage for a low yielding vintage.  Small berries and loose clusters developed through a mild summer and alternately hot and cool fall, which led to intensely concentrated flavors and a full-bodied wine.  The 2015 Linked Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon has a mineral richness and depth of complexity consistent with previous vintages. This wine shows raw power in the glass.  Dark cassis, ripe plum and black cherry fruit are welded to tobacco and cola, and it ripples with muscular tannins.  It has an exceptionally long finish and has been proclaimed “dangerously drinkable!”

Grower Notes

The 2014 growing season was easygoing.  Grapevines found their happy place quickly, as warm spring soils brought an early budbreak, and the rest of the season was mild and relaxed, with high temperatures dancing in the mid 80’s.  The vines and grapes developed smoothly, soaking up the dreamy vacation-like weather.  Wine country got a little shaken in late August by an impressive earthquake, but the vineyards only felt a tickle on their roots and harvest proceeded with the same mellow vibe as the rest of the vintage.

Tasting Notes

In December, Robert Parker wrote "Luc Morlet is not only a fabulous winemaking talent, he knows how to bring the French savoir faire of complexity, elegance and precision to the ripe, concentrated, intense fruit of California." No sense arguing with Bob, he captured this vintage to a tee. A swirl of the glass reveals aromatics of red and black cherries mingled with cedar. The palate is teased by impeccable tannins, round and soft, with notes of blackberry, leather and cocoa, and the finish boasts a captivating yet laid back character.

Enjoy!

Grower Notes

It turns out 13 is a lucky number. The 2013 growing season was drier than normal, and the lack of rainfall worked in the vineyard’s favor. Linked Vineyards saw its lowest yields to date — bittersweet, but transformative. The vines produced smaller berries packed with concentration and intensity. Warm days, cool nights, and an even harvest free of heat spikes allowed the fruit to develop vibrant acidity and generous, supple tannins.

Tasting Notes

The 2013 Linked Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon carries all the hallmarks of a classic. Deep, dark, and commanding, it pours with dense color and immediate presence. Aromas of black cherry, cassis, and clove rise from the glass, while the palate unfolds in layered waves of ripe blackberry, Santa Rosa plum, blueberry, and currant. Dusky spice notes of nutmeg and pink peppercorn weave through a subtle mineral undertone. The finish is long, seamless, and slow-building — structured yet seductive.

As with every vintage from Linked Vineyards, this Cabernet offers both early pleasure and serious cellaring potential. Beautifully expressive now, it has the depth, balance, and structure to evolve gracefully for years to come.

Grower Notes

Perfection is hard to realize, but 2012 might come close. A beautiful growing season raised our spirits after the challenges of 2011. A cool spring with plentiful rains made the vines incredibly happy. Summer temperatures danced between the upper 70s and low 90s. No rain. No hot stretches. Nothing for a farmer to complain about!  October brought cooler temperatures, allowing the fruit to ripen slowly…perfectly.

Tasting Notes

So, what do you do when Mother Nature hands you impeccable fruit? Make the most breathtaking bottle of wine! Aromas of wild blackberries and currants intermingle with dusky notes of fresh tobacco, allspice and cedar. A mélange of ripe blackberry, boysenberry and huckleberry flavors is interlaced with warm spice notes, bourbon, vanilla and a hint of cocoa. This wine waltzes between mouth-watering luxurious tannins and bright and intense fruit. This is a sultry wine that beckons you to sip…and savor…and come back for more.

Drink it now, or put it away? The only answer is YES!

Grower Notes

Walt Disney said "It's kind of fun to do the impossible."  For many, 2011 was an impossible hard vintage.  For Linked, it was a chance to show how good this vineyard and this team really are.  With late bud break, a cool summer and rain whenever it wasn't wanted, the vineyard required a lot of TLC.  Drew did a little extra fruit thinning to make sure things had a chance to ripen, additional leaf removal to give the grapes just the right amount of sunshine, and VERY selective picking.  Then Luc worked his magic, sorting the grapes both mechanically AND by hand, bringing out the beauty of this vineyard and showing his mastery of the art and science of winemaking.

Tasting Notes

The reward is a wine that is deep, rich and complex.  At first glance, the wine's color is strikingly dark and intense.  The nose reveals a medley of aromas.  Red fruits and blackberries intermingle with bits of cocoa, allspice and bay.  The flavor shows another level of complexity and sheer joy in a glass.  Notes of olallieberry, blackberry and dark plum are interspersed with hints of vanilla bean, violet, nutmeg and star anise.  The tannins are lithe and effortless.  Soft, round, seductive, the finish lingers on the tongue.  While this wine can be cellared for a decade or more, why put it away?  It's so deliciously drinkable now!

Grower Notes

This vintage is defined by the longest hang time in Linked Vineyards’ history. Bud break arrived on schedule, but an extended, cool fall pushed harvest later than Drew had ever recorded. The additional time on the vine allowed the fruit to develop remarkable depth, richness, and exceptional tannin structure.

Tasting Notes

In the glass, the wine is deep and intensely colored, with aromatics to match. Layers of black fruit, cocoa, graphite, cedar, and dark plum rise immediately, commanding attention. The palate unfolds in a seamless progression of blackberry, black cherry, and black currant, accented by notes of fine dark chocolate, black tea, peppercorn, and a touch of toasted brioche. Structured tannins frame the fruit beautifully, carrying the wine into a long, mouthwatering finish.

It’s compelling now, with vibrant energy and presence, yet built with the structure and balance to reward long-term cellaring.

Grower Notes

This may be the finest expression of the vineyard to date. Cool spring and summer seasons were offset by bursts of warm weather. This resulted in mid-August veraison and perfectly ripe fruit in late October.

Tasting Notes

In the glass, you are immediately struck by the depth of color. Winemaker Luc Morlet calls it violet foncé. The intensity of the color is a tantalizing promise of the aroma and flavors to come. The nose is filled with wild berries, Santa Rosa plums, cassis and allspice, with undertones of dried mushrooms and light floral notes. A sip reveals a complex symphony of boysenberries, blackberries and dark Bing cherries blended with layers of pepper, warm spices, graphite and mocha. Beautifully structured tannins and an easy minerality lead to an exceptionally long silken finish.

This well-structured wine is eminently drinkable now, but will age beautifully over the next 15-20 years.

Grower Notes

The 2008 Linked Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon takes the Linked style of powerfully elegant Cabernet to the next level. Made with 100% estate Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine showcases beautifully ripened fruit that came from near perfect growing conditions.

Tasting Notes

The intense ruby color hints at the depth and complexity of this wine: layers of juicy blackberry and black cherry, red currant and raspberry give way to hints of warm spices, dark chocolate and graphite. Floral notes and lovely acidy add to this wine's multi-dimensional profile. The big round flavors and soft, supple tannins create a wine that makes you eagerly anticipate the next sip as you are savoring the last one.

While this wine is rich, ripe and drinkable now, it has the potential to age 15-20 years past the vintage date.

Grower Notes

True to the vineyard, this wine is made with 100% estate Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a powerful wine that showcases the balance of power and elegance.

Tasting Notes

A first glance at the deep, dark ruby color fringed with mahogany suggests a wine of great character and complexity. The nose is redolent of intense, concentrated red and black fruit with hints of chocolate and tobacco, finely-framed by delicate oak. Each sip reveals a new flavor dimension; black currant, blueberry, dark Bing cherry and plum mingle with tobacco, leather, cocoa, black pepper, and allspice. Supple tannins dance around balanced acidity to give a silken finish that goes on and on.

While the Linked Cabernet is drinking beautifully now, it has the potential to age 15-20 years past the vintage date.