The Calling Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

The Calling Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 is a 750ml, 14.5% ABV Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon bottled unfined and unfiltered after 22 months of aging. This 100% varietal wine earned 88 points from Wine Enthusiast critic Virginie Boone, who praised its broad, approachable character and layered dark fruit.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California  |  Vintage: 2016  |  Producer: The Calling (Jim Nantz & Peter Deutsch)

Production & Heritage

The Calling was established as a partnership between CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz and spirits executive Peter Deutsch, with a mission to produce wines from Sonoma County's Alexander Valley — a broad valley floor bisected by the Russian River, surrounded by hills that block coastal fog and create warm, even growing conditions over well-drained gravelly soils. The 2016 vintage was made from hand-sorted grapes fermented with native yeast, underwent malolactic fermentation in barrel, and spent an extended maceration period before 22 months of aging. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered, a deliberate choice that preserves more of the wine's natural texture, color, and aromatic complexity than conventional processing would allow.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with prominent char and toasty oak before giving way to deep, plummy fruit with a distinct touch of black pepper. Beneath those initial impressions, ripe black cherry and blackberry emerge as the wine breathes.

Taste: The entry is full and smooth, immediately coating the palate with rich blackberry and plum. At mid-palate, sweet vanilla oak overtones surface alongside a subtle hint of tar, adding savory dimension. A beautifully balanced acidity keeps the concentrated fruit from feeling heavy, while the overall impression is broad and generously fruited.

Finish: The finish carries moderate length with elegant, resolved tannins and lingering dried herb and sage. A mouthwatering acidity persists alongside traces of dark berry and oak spice.

How to Drink The Calling Cabernet

This wine is best enjoyed at cellar temperature, around 60–65°F, and benefits from 30 minutes of decanting to open up its layered aromatics — particularly given its unfined and unfiltered bottling. For cocktail and wine-based drink applications, consider a classic Cabernet Sangria using the wine's dark fruit profile as a base with fresh blackberries and citrus; a Kalimotxo (red wine and cola), where the wine's smooth tannins and vanilla oak create a surprisingly balanced mix; or a New York Sour, substituting this Cab for a rich red wine float atop bourbon and lemon to add depth and berry complexity.

Best For

• Steak night dinners featuring grilled ribeye or filet mignon
• Gifting a wine enthusiast who appreciates Sonoma County reds
• Building a cellar with age-worthy California Cabernets (drinking window through approximately 2028)
• Hosting a comparative tasting of Alexander Valley versus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Calling Cabernet taste like? The Calling Cabernet 2016 delivers rich blackberry and plum fruit supported by sweet vanilla oak, a hint of tar, and dried herb accents on the finish. It is full-bodied, smooth, and well-balanced with elegant tannins and bright acidity.

How does The Calling Cabernet compare to Jordan Alexander Valley Cabernet? Both wines are 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from Alexander Valley, though The Calling is bottled unfined and unfiltered, which generally yields a fuller texture and more robust mouthfeel. Jordan typically emphasizes a more restrained, Bordeaux-inspired elegance, while The Calling leans into richer oak influence and darker fruit concentration.

Is The Calling Cabernet good for sipping neat? Yes — its full body, resolved tannins, and layered dark fruit make it well-suited for drinking on its own, especially after a brief decant to let the aromas fully develop.

Where is The Calling Cabernet made? The Calling Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from grapes grown in Alexander Valley, a sub-appellation of Sonoma County in Northern California. The valley's warm climate, fog-blocking hillsides, and gravelly soils are well-regarded for producing ripe, structured Cabernet Sauvignon.

What foods pair well with The Calling Cabernet? Grilled lamb chops complement the wine's dried herb and sage notes; aged cheddar or Gruyère echo its vanilla oak character; braised short ribs mirror its dark fruit richness; mushroom risotto plays off the wine's earthy undertones; and dark chocolate with 70% cacao highlights the blackberry and tar elements on the finish.

What sizes does The Calling Cabernet come in? The Calling Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is The Calling Cabernet worth the price? The Calling Cabernet 2016 positions in the mid-range tier for Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, with its 22-month aging program, unfined and unfiltered bottling, and 88-point Wine Enthusiast score offering strong value relative to comparable Sonoma County wines in its bracket.

Why The Calling Cabernet?

The defining detail here is the unfined, unfiltered bottling — a step many producers at this price tier skip in favor of cosmetic clarity and consistency. That decision preserves a noticeably fuller texture and more complex aromatic range than typical filtered Cabernets from the same region. Backed by an 88-point rating from Wine Enthusiast's Virginie Boone and built on 22 months of barrel aging with native yeast fermentation, the 2016 vintage captures a warm Alexander Valley growing season in a wine with genuine cellaring potential. For drinkers seeking a Sonoma County Cabernet with substance beyond the label, this expression delivers measurable quality at its price point.