Cline Rock Carved Cabernet Sauvignon

Cline Rock Carved Cabernet Sauvignon is a 750ml, 14.5% ABV Alexander Valley red wine sourced from Sonoma County's Rio Lago Vineyard. Scoring 93 points from James Suckling on the 2022 vintage and 92 points from Wine Enthusiast on the 2021 vintage, this multi-varietal Cabernet blend draws its name—and character—from ancient sedimentary soils deposited by the Russian River.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California  |  Aged 14 Months in French Oak  |  Producer: Cline Family Cellars

Production & Heritage

Cline Family Cellars farms the Rio Lago Vineyard in Alexander Valley, where prehistoric floods from the Russian River carved the valley and deposited layers of sedimentary rock that define the site's terroir—and inspired the "Rock Carved" name. The blend centers on 86–89% Cabernet Sauvignon, rounded out by small proportions of Merlot, Petite Sirah, and Alicante Bouschet for added depth and color. The wine ages for 14 months in 50% new French oak barrels, building structure and complexity without overwhelming the vineyard's dark-fruit expression.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe blackberry and cassis rise first, followed by cedar, tobacco leaf, and a subtle turned-earth quality. Hints of baking spice and toasted vanilla emerge as the wine opens in the glass.

Taste: The entry is plush with dark plum and boysenberry, moving into a layered mid-palate of chocolate, espresso, and leather. Full-bodied and velvety, with balanced acidity holding the rich fruit in check. Cinnamon and clove accents weave through the mid-palate toward the peak.

Finish: Long and lingering, with smooth, rich tannins carrying notes of mocha, cedar, and dark cherry. A thread of warm spice persists through the fade, leaving a clean, resonant close.

How to Drink Rock Carved Cabernet

Decant for 30–45 minutes and serve at 60–65°F to let the layered aromatics fully develop; this is a wine built for the dinner table. A bold red Sangria benefits from the concentrated dark fruit and spice, creating a deeply flavored base. In a winter Mulled Wine, the inherent cedar, cinnamon, and chocolate character amplifies the warming spice blend. A simple Kalimotxo (red wine and cola) pairs surprisingly well with the wine's tannic backbone and mocha undertones.

Best For

• Pairing with grilled ribeye steak or braised short ribs at a weekend dinner
• Gifting a red wine enthusiast exploring Sonoma County appellations
• Building an Alexander Valley Cabernet collection with critically acclaimed bottles
• Hosting a blind tasting focused on terroir-driven California reds

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Rock Carved Cabernet taste like? Rich and full-bodied, with dominant flavors of blackberry, dark plum, and boysenberry layered with chocolate, espresso, and cedar. Balanced acidity and smooth tannins give it a velvety texture and a long, spice-tinged finish.

How does Rock Carved Cabernet compare to Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon? Cline Rock Carved sources fruit exclusively from Alexander Valley's Rio Lago Vineyard and ages in 50% new French oak, resulting in a more structured, terroir-specific wine that has scored up to 93 points from James Suckling. Hess Select draws from broader California appellations and tends toward a softer, more fruit-forward profile, earning 90 points from Wine Enthusiast.

Is Rock Carved Cabernet good for sipping on its own? Its layered complexity, balanced tannins, and long finish reward patient sipping, especially after 30 minutes of decanting to let the aromatics fully develop.

Where is Rock Carved Cabernet made? Rock Carved Cabernet is produced by Cline Family Cellars from fruit grown at Rio Lago Vineyard in the Alexander Valley AVA of Sonoma County, California—a region prized for its warm days, cool nights, and well-drained alluvial soils.

What foods pair well with Rock Carved Cabernet? Grilled ribeye steak complements the wine's tannic structure and dark fruit. Braised lamb shanks echo its earthy, herbaceous notes. Aged cheddar or Gruyère highlight the cedar and spice tones. Dark chocolate desserts mirror the espresso and mocha undertones. Mushroom risotto bridges the wine's earthiness and full body.

What sizes does Rock Carved Cabernet come in? Rock Carved Cabernet is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Rock Carved Cabernet worth the price? Rock Carved Cabernet positions as a mid-premium Alexander Valley expression, and with scores reaching 93 points from James Suckling plus Gold Medal recognition at the 2023 Sonoma County Harvest Fair, it delivers single-vineyard specificity and critical acclaim that punch above its price tier.

Why Rock Carved Cabernet?

The Rock Carved name is more than branding—it references the ancient Russian River sedimentary deposits that shape Rio Lago Vineyard's distinctive soil profile and give this wine a sense of place difficult to replicate. With 93 points from James Suckling, 92 points from Wine Enthusiast, and a Gold Medal at the 2023 Sonoma County Harvest Fair, the wine has earned recognition from both critics and competitions across multiple vintages. The blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with small additions of Merlot, Petite Sirah, and Alicante Bouschet adds layers of color and complexity rarely found in single-vineyard bottlings at this level. Fourteen months in 50% new French oak rounds the package into a wine that balances Alexander Valley power with genuine finesse.