Soft and smooth, with elegant tannins and a lingering finish. This wine is a joint project between Pat Paulsen Vineyards and Antawara wines, with a long relationship between the winemakers, bridging the gap between old world elegance and new world drinkability.

Featured as one of the "Year's Best Chilean Cabernets" by Wine and Spirits Magazine, this is what they have to say: "A firm Cabernet full of rich red fruit flavor and menthol scents, this seems delicate at first, but then it opens, the intense fruit flavors elegantly supported by spice and tannins."

Wine insider Somellier Selection:

"When a blind panel that includes Wine & Spirits critic Patricio Tapia tastes 141 new-release Chilean Cabernets and Carménères, granting only 33 the coveted “Exceptional” rating, we have to keep our eyes peeled for the chosen few. That’s why our taste buds practically jumped for joy when we came across Pat Paulsen Vineyards’ 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, a powerful product of two worlds: Sonoma County’s first “celebrity-owned” winery (comedy lovers will recognize Paulsen as the Emmy Award-winning actor and deadpan comedian) and grapes from Chile’s oldest wine-producing zone.

Carrying on his family’s legacy, Montgomery Paulsen, Pat’s son and a highly respected winemaker in his own right, embarked on a joint venture with Antawara Wines of Chile. “One thing I like about Chilean Cabernet,” he says, “is that it gives an Old World spin on the varietal, which is an elegant alternative to the heavier Alexander Valley Cabernets that I grew up with (and loved) at my family’s winery in the ‘70s and ‘80s – or the killer-monster wines we made at Rosenblum Vineyards.” 

“There is also a family history aspect to Chile. My grandfather (Norman Inge Paulsen) emigrated from Norway in 1906, and grew up to become a sailor in the Coast Guard. Later in life, he sailed in the Merchant Marine – primarily on a trade route between Santiago, Chile, and San Francisco – and entertained my siblings and me with stories about Chile, instilling a lifelong fascination with the culture and the people. It was a great pleasure when I started doing business with Chile, getting to experience the country and its wine firsthand.”

The Maipo Valley in Chile is known for eucalyptus heavy Cabernet, which can be unsettling if handled improperly.  This wine is handled just right, promoting the character of the land while preserving the essence of what Cabernet should taste like.  A nose full of fresh herbs, a minty lining and eucalyptus undertones, is supported by ripe berries and a touch of vanilla.  On the palate, expect dark fruit resting on a bed of soft, fine tannins, the herbal notes become completely integrated in this scene.  This wine is a crowd-pleaser with a distinguished label and an accessible price tag.  Don’t miss this opportunity to impress your guests without spending a fortune. – DZ"

Winemaker Notes:

"I wanted to produce an elegant old-world style Cabernet when I started this project with my friends at Antawara Wines in Chile, and we found a way to do it with a new-world price. Softer tannins than our California Cabernet, and we kept the barrels fairly neutral in flavor, which allows a more concentrated grape and vineyard quality to shine through after aging. Our first vintage turned out so well that Wine and Spirits Magazine showcased it as one of their favorite Chilean Cabernets of the year. This wine quickly sold out when we offered it in our tasting room, but I held back a few bottles to sell online for those folks who never had a chance to visit us and try it yourself." - Monty Paulsen