40th Anniversary Blend

Tasting Notes

Some wines can only be made after decades of farming the same mountain vineyards. Created to celebrate forty years of family winemaking at Lava Cap, this blend brings together varieties that have thrived on our volcanic soils for generations.

Dark, layered, and expressive, the wine opens with aromas of blackberry, cassis, violets, cracked pepper, and dried herbs. The palate is rich and structured, balancing Syrah’s savory spice and dark fruit with the depth and age-worthy backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon. A small addition of Cabernet Franc lifts the wine with floral aromatics and freshness. Firm mountain tannins and vibrant natural acidity carry through a long, polished finish.

Vineyard Notes

The 40th Anniversary Blend is composed of 56% Syrah planted in 1995, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon planted in 1981, and 2% Cabernet Franc, all sourced from Lava Cap’s estate vineyards in the high elevation El Dorado AVA.

Grown between roughly 2,400 and 2,700 feet in elevation on our distinctive volcanic “lava cap” soils, these vineyards benefit from warm mountain days, cool nights, and intense sunlight that allow the fruit to develop concentration while retaining freshness and structure. After decades of careful farming, these mature vines are producing wines with remarkable complexity, balance, and sense of place.

The 2023 growing season was notably cool and extended, allowing for slow, even ripening and exceptional flavor development. The Syrah was harvested first, followed shortly by the Cabernet Franc, with the Cabernet Sauvignon picked nearly a month later after a long, steady finish to the season.

Winemaker Notes

When we began thinking about how to celebrate our 40th year of winemaking, our first instinct was simple: select our favorite barrel from an exceptional vintage and bottle it on its own. But in a vintage filled with so many compelling wines, choosing just one quickly proved impossible.

Instead, we started experimenting with a few of our favorite lots, exploring how they might complement each other in unexpected ways. After countless tastings and refinements, we settled on a blend built around Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, two varieties that consistently excel in our mountain vineyards.
Each lot was fermented separately to preserve its individual character before blending. Syrah contributes dark fruit, spice, and richness, while Cabernet Sauvignon provides structure, depth, and longevity. Cabernet Franc adds a subtle aromatic lift that ties the blend together.

The final wine captures the intensity and freshness that define Lava Cap’s high elevation vineyards while honoring forty years of family farming and winemaking in the Sierra Foothills.