Chapter II · The Paris Judgment · 1976
Cabernet Sauvignon
Think you know Sierra Foothills wine? Open this mountain Cabernet and let it change your mind.
A Bordeaux-style Cabernet Sauvignon from mountain vineyards as high as 3,200 feet — velvety, balanced and made to break the spell on Sierra Foothills wine.
The Chapter
In 1976, a blind tasting in Paris put California Cabernet on the world map. In the Sierra Foothills, growers took notice and planted Bordeaux varieties higher up the slopes — some as high as 3,200 feet.
Decades later, Lorenzo Muslia arrived from Florence and began carrying our wines into restaurants across more than twenty-five states. Again and again he met the same resistance: buyers who were sure they already knew what Foothills wine tasted like.
“We were cursed by the knowledge they had about our region, and the only way to break that spell was to make extraordinary wines.”
Lorenzo Muslia, Vintner
Curse of Knowledge is the answer: the result of five years of vineyard research, and a Cabernet Sauvignon made to change minds.
The Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon
Andis Wines Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon
Rancho Victoria
Cabernet Sauvignon
Indian Rock
Merlot
Twin Oaks
Merlot
Gold Mountain
Cabernet Franc
Hawk Creek
In the Glass
Color
Intense ruby
Aromas
Dried violet, black cherry, fresh herbs, cocoa powder
Palate
Velvety tannins and a round, generous mid-palate
Finish
Dark berries and black licorice
In the cellar
Bright now — or age it for the next decade
At the table
Grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, aged cheeses
At a Glance
The Wine
Grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Cabernet Franc and Merlot
Appellation
Sierra Foothills AVA
Soils
Granitic, sandy loam and volcanic
Elevation
1,500 – 3,200 ft
Aging
14 – 18 months in French oak
Style
Bordeaux-style, balanced and age-worthy
The Vintages
Open a vintage to read its notes, vineyards, scores and tech sheet.
Curse of Knowledge strives to change perceptions of Sierra Foothills wine. An intense ruby color and a sensational bouquet of dried violet, black cherry, fresh herbs and cocoa powder; velvety tannins, a round, balanced mid-palate and a lingering finish of dark berries and black licorice.
| Critics | 93 TP “Publisher’s Pick” PDF ↓ |
| Blend | 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc |
| Vineyards | Cabernet Sauvignon: Andis Wines Estate, Rancho Victoria, Indian Rock · Merlot: Twin Oaks, Gold Mountain · Cabernet Franc: Hawk Creek |
| Harvest | September 27 – November 12 |
| Soils | Granitic, sandy loam, volcanic |
| Elevation | 1,500 – 3,200 ft |
| Fermentation | 16 – 21 days in open-top fermenters, pumped over morning and evening |
| Aging | 14 months in French oak, 25% new |
| Alcohol · pH | 14.2% · 3.55 |
| Production | 9,000 cases |
An intense ruby color and a bouquet of dried violet, black cherry, fresh herbs and cocoa powder. Velvety tannins create a generous, round, balanced mid-palate, followed by a lingering finish of dark berries and black licorice.
| Critics | 94 TP PDF ↓ · 92 JS PDF ↓ · 91 WE “Hidden Gem” PDF ↓ |
| Blend | 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc |
| Vineyards | Cabernet Sauvignon: Andis Wines Estate, Rancho Victoria · Merlot: Twin Oaks · Cabernet Franc: Hawk Creek |
| Harvest | September 14 – October 25 |
| Soils | Granitic, sandy loam, volcanic |
| Elevation | 1,500 – 3,200 ft |
| Fermentation | 16 days in open-top fermenters, pumped over morning and evening |
| Aging | 14 months in French oak, 25% new |
| Alcohol · pH | 14.4% · 3.78 |
| Production | 5,500 cases |
A Bordeaux-style Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Cabernet Franc, Merlot and a hint of Petit Verdot: flawlessly balanced and well-structured, with dried violet, black cherry, fresh herbs and cocoa powder, and a lingering finish of dark berries and black licorice.
| Critics | 92 TP PDF ↓ · 92 SJ PDF ↓ · 88 WS PDF ↓ · 87 WE |
| Blend | 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot |
| Vineyards | Andis Wines Estate, Rancho Victoria, Brice Station, Hawk Creek, Salman Farms, Miraflores, Bokisch Vineyard |
| Harvest | September 11 – October 15 |
| Soils | Decomposed granite, sandy loam |
| Elevation | 1,500 – 3,200 ft |
| Fermentation | Temperature-controlled steel tanks |
| Aging | 14 months in French oak, 25% new |
| Alcohol · pH | 14.5% · 3.53 |
| Production | 5,500 cases |
A red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc made to thwart the curse of knowledge on the Sierra Foothills: perfectly balanced and well-structured, with dried violet, black cherry, fresh herbs and cocoa powder.
| Critics | 89 WE PDF ↓ |
| Blend | 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 7% Malbec |
| Vineyards | Andis Wines Estate, Camino Alto, Di Stasio, Hawk Creek, Slate Ridge, Miraflores |
| Harvest | September 10, 11, 17, 29 & October 12 |
| Soils | Decomposed granite, sandy loam |
| Fermentation | Temperature-controlled steel tanks |
| Aging | 18 months in French oak, 20% new |
| Alcohol · pH | 14.5% · 3.73 |
| Production | 1,300 cases |
The first Curse of Knowledge: a red blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, with an intense ruby color, a balanced, generous mid-palate and a lingering finish of dark berries and black licorice.
| Critics | 90 WE PDF ↓ |
| Blend | 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 18% Malbec, 7% Merlot |
| Vineyards | Andis Wines Estate, Camino Alto, Di Stasio, Hawk Creek, Rucksack, David Gerard |
| Harvest | September 24, 25 & October 2, 16 & November 6 |
| Soils | Decomposed granite, sandy loam |
| Fermentation | Temperature-controlled steel tanks |
| Aging | 18 months in French oak, 20% new |
| Alcohol · pH | 14.2% · 3.69 |
| Production | 900 cases |
In the Press
94 Tasting Panel 2022 vintage 93 Tasting Panel · “Publisher’s Pick” 2023 vintage 92 James Suckling 2022 vintage 92 Tasting Panel 2021 vintage 92 SOMM Journal 2021 vintage 91 Wine Enthusiast · “Hidden Gem” 2022 vintage 90 Wine Enthusiast 2019 vintage 89 Wine Enthusiast 2020 vintage 88 Wine Spectator 2021 vintage 87 Wine Enthusiast 2021 vintage
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