Today I will be reviewing 1 of 3 wines from the new “ForeFront” series thanks to my friends at Pine Ridge Vineyards. These three wines resemble the vision of founders Gary & Nancy Andrus, a vision that can only be described as “open source” winemaking.

“Open Source” Winemaking a philosophy and technique for blending wine from your favorite sources without be limited to a single wine growing valley.  For example, this Cabernet Sauvignon is a combination of the three hand picked valleys stretched across California.  What makes ForeFront different from other wines that mix sourced fruit is that these wines embody an artistic convention set forth by the late Gary Andrus.  Gary was a pioneer that spent most of his life working of ways to improve the forefront of the wine industry.

When I heard that winemaker Michael Beaulac was doing this at Pine Ridge, I was very excited to be one of the first people to experience this wine.  Last July I was invited to have dinner at the Pine Ridge wine caves with Michael and my fellow wine bloggers.  It was here that I tasted their Chenin Blanc Viognier (which by the way is the best deal in town!) and got to see just how passionate Michael is about making wine.  It was pretty obvious that he shared the vision that is “ForeFront”.

If you get the opportunity I recommend studying this breakdown below as you taste the ForeFront Cabernet.  It may help you identify the different varietals and regions as the flavors open-up in your glass.

The ForeFront Experience:

This is a very dark red wine, with soft tannins that engage your palate and produce a rich flavor of dark cherry on the finish.  I paired this with a turkey pasta dinner with a creamy vodka sauce and it really brought out the cherry quality.  I think the 13% mix of Syrah from El Dorado and San Luis Obispo made the wine a much tamer Cabernet.  I think this is a wine that’s ready to drink straight from the bottle without the need to decant it first to let the tannins settle.  At a suggested retail price of $24, this is a great opportunity to experience the marriage of three remarkable wine growing valleys at a price you can afford.

Your Thoughts?

What do you think about this blend?  I like how the “open source” philosophy was executed here and would like to see them produce more varietals.  If you get a chance to taste the ForeFront Cabernet, please share your thoughts.  Cheers!

If you can’t find this wine locally, ask your favorite retailer to carry it.  That usually helps.  But if it doesn’t, reach out to Pine Ridge Vineyards on Facebook or send them an email at info@pineridgewine.com