WTN: Massa, Née Durney

[David M. Bueker]

• 2021 Bedrock Wine Co. Cabernet Sauvignon Massa Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Carmel Valley (2/9/2025)
  My personal history with the Massa vineyard goes back to when it was known as Durney. It had been a very long time since I last had a Cabernet from the site, but a Bedrock rendition was too tempting to pass. I am so glad I didn't skip it. Where I have often found with other Bedrock Cabernets a tendency to be more a Bedrock wine than a Cab, this one was a clear window into the grape and soil. The very first thing I noticed on opening was a gravelly undertone to the wine. It actually reminded me of something from Graves/Pessac. The fruit was dark but not overripe, and the tannins were quite grippy in the mid-palate. It went up another level when paired with the beef stew we had for dinner, and somehow the bottle disappeared too quickly, as the three of us kept going back for more tastes with the food. Last tastes were about three hours after opening, and the overall profile of the wine remained steady - California sunshine creating a ripe fruit profile, but with a classic, soil-focused structure. Outstanding!