Balverne Be Forever Wild Cabernet Sauvignon Chalk Hill 2021 750ml

Hand-picked in the cool of the night, this fruit is brought to the winery and carefully cluster sorted, de-stemmed (but not crushed) and gently pumped to fermenters where it undergoes our proprietary extended cold soak for maximum aqueous color and flavor extraction. Following the extended cold soak, native fermentation commences, not over 80 degrees and our normal gentle pump-over protocols take place. Barrel aged in 100% French Oak barrels for 18 months gives wonderful aromas and nuanced tannin structure.

Be-Forever Wild Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are sustainably farmed on well drained south-facing blocks that produce small, intensely flavored berries ripened by the Sonoma County afternoon sun, yet moderated by the cooling Pacific Ocean breezes.
All of Be-Forever Wild blocks surround our Forever Wild Open Space, a natural ecosystem that has evolved to support natural pest management without the need for harmful chemical applications. The gravelly Chalk Hill soils, rolling hillsides and local mild climate provide the ideal terroir for this well crafted Cabernet.

Bob and Renee Stein purchased the 710-acre Russian River Valley estate that included a working vineyard in 1992. The property was previously the famous Balverne Cellars run by John Kongsgaard and Doug Nalle and the wines poured in many famous restaurants and even the White House in the 70’s and 80’s. In the first years the Steins continued to sell the vineyard fruit to many well-known Napa and Sonoma wineries as they recreated their sustainable vision for what would eventually become the Notre Vue Estate. Their winemaker, Alex Holman is also an enologist and science major and has been winemaker and/or estate manager at Dry Creek Vineyard, Paul Hobbs Winery and Keller Estate. Alex employs a low intervention method of winemaking that goes hand in hand with the Estate’s sustainability and land preservation goals. The team has worked with determination to weave together the rugged wildlands and agricultural landscape in a way that would allow both to thrive with equal beauty and strength. As part of this effort, the Steins made the decision to protect 350 acres of Forever Wild open space in perpetuity.

The Vineyard and Winery are also Certified Sonoma Sustainable.

Their Sonoma County estate is extending from the renowned Russian River Valley into the unique volcanic soils and 700’ elevations that produce the famous red wines of the Chalk Hill appellation. Only the top 10% of the Estate’s grapes are used to produce less than 5.000 cases. And each wine is 100% Estate grown, produced and bottled in small lots.