There is a new guard for Bordeaux varieties in Sonoma County, and Winemaker Jesse Katz seemingly leads the charge.

Jesse's Aperture label has planted its flag in some of the top cool-climate vineyard sites in the Alexander Valley; a viticultural area in northeastern Sonoma County where Cabernet Sauvignon has thrived since the 1970s.

While pioneering producers such as Robert Young, Rodney Strong and Tom Jordan have long advocated for Cabernet's potential within the region, increasing daytime temperatures in the Napa Valley have recently provoked more and more winemakers to seek out cooler parcels to plant Bordeaux varieties.

Jesse started Aperture Cellars along with his father, Andy, who is a successful Southern California-based Photographer. While traveling the world for his art, Andy made a point of bringing along his son to experience it all with him. Over the years, the two benefited from an international wine education, tasting everything from Grand Cru Burgundy to First Growth Bordeaux.

Aperture's massive success, however, did not come without years of hard work and dedication to the practice of viticulture and winemaking. Over two decades of harvest internships learning from the best producers in the world—Pétrus, Screaming Eagle, Viña Cobos, Bodega Noemia, and more—have led to this moment for Jesse at Aperture, where his wines have generated buzz and critical acclaim in equal measure.

In a remarkably short period of time, Jesse has made himself into one of the most respected wine professionals in California. He was the first winemaker ever to be included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, a Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker, and had been named a Wine Spectator "Rising Star. But even with all of the accolades, the Aperture wines largely speak for themselves.

Jesse and his dedicated team work with multiple high-quality vineyard sites throughout the Alexander Valley, including Del Rio Vineyard in the southeastern part of the Valley, a tiny seven-acre Cabernet plot called SJ Ranch, and their 32-acre Aperture Estate Vineyard where they house a winery and a hospitality center.

Del Rio Vineyard

Perched atop a steep hillside in the southeastern part of Alexander Valley, Del Rio Vineyard is one of the true jewels of the appellation. The pitch of the land and the depth of the soils mean that the vines' roots stretch deep into the earth, which instills the finished wine with a profound tension and concentration. The land itself faces south-southwest, which means that the grapes benefit from warm sunshine throughout the day. Combine that with the vineyard's unique white-chalk volcanic soils, and you have the perfect recipe for wines of depth, power, and richness.

SJ Ranch Vineyard

This seven-acre plot in the Alexander Valley is so diverse that it's divided up into seven individual blocks that range from a quarter-acre to three-and-a-half acres. It's composed of two main soil types: Deep, well-drained gravels from what was most likely an ancient river bed hundreds of millions of years ago and soils that bring together gravels and more volcanic material. Two different clones of Cabernet are planted here, and they're among the last grapes Jesse picks every year: The fog that blankets SJ allows the berries to hang and ripen at a wonderfully slow pace, and the purity and expressiveness of the wines are unmatched. While Aperture does not own this vineyard, they manage 100% of the farming so they can optimize results each and every vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon from SJ Vineyard showcases the quintessentially Bordeaux-influenced earthiness and terroir-specificity that this part of the valley is famous for.

In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, Jesse, and his team craft some of the most delicious Chenin Blanc from an old vine vineyard in Clarksburg. Because the Chenin vines sink their roots deep into this specific vineyards clay-loam soils, they have the opportunity to pull power and presence from within the earth. Combine that with the "Delta Breeze" that sweeps in from the San Francisco Bay, allowing the fruit to ripen fully and at a perfectly leisurely pace, and Jesse is given all the raw materials he needs to craft a Chenin Blanc of weight and detail. Consider this wine your ultimate poolside summer sipper.

Today's Mayacama Wine Offer is a special one, as we will be providing access to bottlings from all three of these epic growing sites. Furthermore, Jesse is allowing Mayacama members access to Aperture Club Pricing for both Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings. This is the best possible pricing you are going to find on these stunning wines.

As always, please feel free to let me know if you have any questions regarding today’s offer. Thank you for your support!

Cheers!

Carey Vanderborg, Wine Director

2021 Aperture Chenin Blanc, North Coast - $35

2019 Aperture Cabernet Sauvignon, Del Rio Vineyard, Alexander Valley
SRP: $150 Mayacama Price: $125

2018 Aperture Cabernet Sauvignon, SJ Ranch, Alexander Valley
SRP: $175 Mayacama Price: $150

Click here for more information regarding the wines.