Arouse Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

$59.00

Arouse is a Cabernet Sauvignon with a delightfully rebellious streak, with Bill’s unmistakable touch. It is generous, bold, and just a little provocative—rather like a classic French idea retold in a California accent.

Each vintage, Bill coaxes together Bordeaux varieties as one might compose a good meal—guided by season, landscape, and a touch of mischief—to create a wine that feels rooted in place yet unmistakably Californian: generous, bold, and full of flavor.

In 2023, Cabernet Sauvignon takes the lead, bringing dark cassis, blackberry, and that lovely graphite note one hopes to find in serious wine, while a mere splash of Malbec softens the posture, offering a whisper of violet and a bit of juicy seduction. The result is rich but not ponderous, polished yet relaxed.

It is the sort of wine equally happy enjoyed on its own at dusk, or alongside grilled steak, roast chicken, or even a proper cheeseburger, where, one suspects, it may be at its most charming.

Arouse 2023 doesn’t arrive quietly—it takes the room.

Cabernet lays down the framework: blackcurrant, blackberry, dark cherry, all riding over graphite and cedar like steel over stone. Malbec moves in behind it, adding velvet to muscle, violet and cocoa threading through the darker notes.

The structure is disciplined—firm tannins, bright acidity, full-bodied power held in control. Then the finish rolls on, long and deliberate, dark fruit giving way to espresso and spice.

Rich, layered, and unapologetically commanding, this is a wine built with precision, power, and nerve.

The 2023 campaign unfolded with near-perfect conditions—long, cool, disciplined. No rush, no heat spikes forcing decisions. Fruit stayed on the vine, gathering power slowly, building concentration, color, and structure with the kind of precision winemakers wait decades for. The result is a vintage with depth, freshness, and tannic backbone built for the long haul.

Arouse was conceived with a different objective: take California-grown Bordeaux varieties and ignore the old rules. Cabernet Sauvignon provides the command structure; Malbec brings breadth, dark energy, and a certain unpredictability. Together they form something bold, approachable, and unmistakably American—a blend less about tradition than controlled rebellion.

Held in French oak for 22 months—40 percent new, 40 percent once-used, the balance neutral—the élevage was calibrated for precision. New oak brought structure and controlled power, seasoned barrels added depth without interference, and neutral wood let the fruit hold the ground. Nothing accidental. Every barrel had an assignment.
Only 633 cases produced.

No allergens were used in the making of this wine.

Our vineyards are cultivated according to the principles of sustainable agriculture, using traditional techniques, strict reduction and control of yields, manual harvests, and numerous hands-on only tasks throughout the year.

No chemical fertilizers are applied. Instead, carefully selected cover crops are planted and returned to the soil, providing organic nutrients that allow our vines to reach remarkable age and consistently produce outstanding grapes.

In the winery, nothing is added to alter flavor or color. Every wine is allowed to express its natural character, reflecting both the care of the vineyard and the integrity of the wines.

Color Red
Vintage 2023
Harvest Date 17th Sep 2023
Style Red Bordeaux
Appellation North Coast
Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
Date Bottled 6th Aug 2025
Drinkable 2026 - 2045
Alcohol 14.00%
Bottle Size 750ml

Pairings