SIMI Landslide Cabernet Sauvignon

SIMI Landslide Cabernet Sauvignon is a Bordeaux-style red blend from Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Named for the prehistoric landslide that shaped its vineyard soils, this single-vineyard wine has earned consistent critical praise, including a 93-point score from the San Francisco Wine Panel for the 2019 vintage and a Double Gold medal at the Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge for the 2016 vintage.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California  |  Vineyard-Designated  |  Winery: SIMI

Production & Heritage

SIMI Winery is one of Sonoma County's oldest producers, founded in 1876 by Italian immigrants Giuseppe and Pietro Simi in the heart of Alexander Valley. The Landslide Vineyard takes its name from the geological event that deposited a mosaic of varied soils across the site, and the fruit is farmed across three distinct blocks — Uplands, Midlands, and Lowlands — each contributing different characteristics. The Uplands provide structure and density, the Midlands yield powerful wines with more weight, and the Lowlands produce riper berry character with softer tannins. The final blend — 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot, and 2% Tannat — is aged 24 months in French oak barrels, 45% of which are new, lending polish and spice without overwhelming the fruit.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Intense black cherry and cassis rise first, followed by cigar box, cracked black pepper, and hints of cedar. Deeper layers reveal baking spice, bay leaf, and toasty vanilla from the French oak program.

Taste: The entry is bold and fruit-forward, led by blackberry and dark plum that coat the palate with a fleshy, generous mid-palate weight. Black licorice and cocoa weave through the fruit, joined by red plum and subtle vanilla as the wine opens up. The six-grape blend delivers real complexity, with the Malbec and Petit Verdot adding color and mid-palate density that pure Cabernet bottlings often lack.

Finish: Firm, ripe tannins carry the wine to a long conclusion marked by bittersweet cocoa and lingering cassis. The oak integration is seamless, leaving a clean spice note that invites another sip.

How to Drink Landslide Cabernet

This wine rewards 30 minutes of decanting and drinks best at cellar temperature (60–65°F), either on its own or alongside food. A bold, structured red like this also holds up well in wine-based cocktails and culinary applications. Try it in a Cabernet Sangria with dark stone fruit and cinnamon for a party-ready pour, a Red Wine Reduction drizzled over grilled steak where its cocoa and cassis notes intensify beautifully, or a classic Kalimotxo (red wine and cola) for a surprisingly refreshing warm-weather option that leverages the wine's dark fruit intensity.

Best For

• Hosting a Sonoma County wine dinner at home
• Gifting to a Cabernet lover who appreciates vineyard-specific wines
• Building a mid-week cellar staple with aging potential
• Pairing with a weekend steak or braised short rib dinner

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Landslide Cabernet taste like? It is a fruit-forward Cabernet-dominant blend with pronounced blackberry, dark cherry, and cassis flavors layered with cocoa, baking spice, and black licorice. Firm tannins and integrated French oak give it structure and a long, bittersweet cocoa finish.

How does Landslide Cabernet compare to Silver Oak Alexander Valley? Both are Alexander Valley Cabernets, but Silver Oak uses exclusively American oak and tends toward a sweeter vanilla and dill profile, while SIMI Landslide relies on French oak and a six-grape Bordeaux-style blend that emphasizes darker fruit and cocoa tones with more tannic grip. Silver Oak typically commands a significantly higher price point.

Is Landslide Cabernet good for sipping neat? Yes — its ripe tannin structure, layered fruit, and 24-month oak aging make it well suited for drinking on its own, particularly after brief decanting to let the aromatics fully open.

Where is Landslide Cabernet made? It is produced by SIMI Winery in Alexander Valley, a warm inland sub-appellation of Sonoma County, California, known for producing rich, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon.

What foods pair well with Landslide Cabernet? Grilled ribeye steak complements the wine's tannic backbone and dark fruit. Braised lamb shanks mirror its earthy, spice-driven character. Aged cheddar or Gruyère echo the cocoa and baking spice notes. Dark chocolate desserts harmonize with the bittersweet finish. Mushroom risotto plays off the wine's earthy cassis and cedar undertones.

What sizes does Landslide Cabernet come in? It is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Landslide Cabernet worth the price? Landslide positions as a mid-premium Alexander Valley Cabernet, offering vineyard-specific character, a complex six-grape blend, and 24 months of French oak aging at a price point well below single-vineyard bottlings from neighbors like Silver Oak or Jordan, making it a strong value within the category.

Why Landslide Cabernet?

What separates this wine from the crowded field of California Cabernets is the Landslide Vineyard itself — a site shaped by a prehistoric geological event that left behind a patchwork of soils farmed as three distinct blocks, each contributing a different dimension to the final blend. The six-grape composition is unusually diverse for an Alexander Valley Cab, adding layers of complexity that simpler two- or three-varietal blends cannot match. Consistent critical recognition — including a 93-point score and multiple Gold and Double Gold medals — confirms that the winemaking team is translating that vineyard potential into the glass vintage after vintage. For drinkers seeking site-driven Sonoma Cabernet without the ultra-premium price tag, this remains one of the more compelling options in Alexander Valley.