Aperture Cellars, located in Sonoma, is renowned for its high-quality wines crafted by winemaker Jesse Katz, who integrates every stage of winemaking from vineyard to bottle. Harvest season in October sees Katz harvesting grapes across several top vineyards to produce acclaimed Bordeaux-style reds, with emphasis on the critical timing of picking. The cool climate of Sonoma's Alexander Valley allows for wines with distinct character, while unique vineyard features contribute to flavor diversity. Katz claims 2024 is his career's best vintage, highlighting the nuances achievable with precise vineyard management and harvesting techniques.
"A single thread goes through every element of what you do, from the vineyard to the winery to the bottle," explained whiz winemaker Jesse Katz, who founded Aperture in 2009.
"It's much cooler than Napa," he pointed out, "so wines have more verve and brightness." Fog over his SJ Ranch vineyard plot allows slow ripening that translates into wines with a savory earthiness.
Katz was rushing to finish up Farrow Ranch because a heat wave threatened to turn grapes into overripe raisins. To preserve their balance and acidity, the team fanned out wearing headlamps to pick at 3 a.m. while grapes were cool.
He turns grapes from a half-dozen top vineyards into rich, nuanced Bordeaux-style reds, celebrated single-vineyard cabernet sauvignons, cult malbecs, and bright, savory whites.
Collection
[
|
...
]