Technical Data

Grape Source: McGrail Estate Vineyard
Appellation: Livermore Valley
Varietal Content: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Oak: 100% New American Oak

Vintage Notes

The 2023 growing season in Livermore Valley followed a wet winter and cool spring, which delayed the start of the season and gave Cabernet Sauvignon a longer, slower path to ripeness. That extended growing season helped preserve acidity while allowing the fruit to develop layered flavor and structure. For Patriot Cabernet, the vintage brings dark fruit, firm but refined tannins, and a savory edge that adds depth to the wine’s classic American oak profile. This is a Patriot with power, but also with freshness and detail.

Vineyard Notes

The 2023 Patriot Cabernet Sauvignon comes from McGrail’s Estate Vineyard on Greenville Road, the heart of our Cabernet Sauvignon program. This hillside vineyard is farmed with meticulous attention to quality, producing Cabernet with concentration, structure, and the bold Livermore Valley character that defines McGrail. Patriot continues to be one of our most meaningful estate Cabernet bottlings.

Winemaking Style

Patriot Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in 100% new American oak from Missouri, including a portion of new U-Stave American oak barrels. This oak program gives the wine its signature notes of vanilla, cedar, spice, tobacco, and structure, while supporting the depth of the estate Cabernet fruit.

The Wine

The 2023 Patriot Cabernet Sauvignon enters the glass with a sense of ceremony, dark, bold, and layered with meaning. Aromas of black cherries, blackberries, and black currants rise first, followed by vanilla, clove, and warm baking spice. As the wine opens, savory notes of thyme, oregano, cedar, forest floor, and a subtle bell pepper edge add depth and character.

On the palate, sweet black fruits, black cherry, blackberry, and black currant unfold with richness and confidence. Good acidity gives the wine lift, while soft tannins bring a polished, steady structure. The finish is long and driven by sweet black fruit, cedar, spice, and earthy complexity. This Patriot feels bold but not overpowering, a Cabernet with strength, heart, and a lingering sense of purpose.

Food Pairing

Pair this wine with aged cheddar cheese for a rich, savory bite that brings out the Cabernet’s dark fruit, spice, and cedar notes. For a heartier pairing, blackened ribeye is a perfect match, the char, peppery crust, and juicy marbling complement the wine’s bold structure, soft tannins, and long, fruit-driven finish.

The Cause

The Patriot wine is a tribute to the officers and service members who protect us locally and globally. Each year, a portion of Patriot Cabernet sales supports a branch of the Fallen Heroes Fund, benefiting the families of police, fire, and military personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty.