Arquiles, Maestro 2 Sierra Foothills 2019

Jancis Robinson
"Full bottle 1,330 g. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. Picked by owner Carlos Caruncho himself. The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were crushed and destemmed, the others were 'stomped on'. All three varieties were co-fermented with ambient yeast. Aged for 19 months in in an old 59-gallon barrel. Just 300 bottles made.
Quite an evolved garnet colour. Sweet and satisfying. Very mellow – as though it has been exposed to quite a bit of oxygen, but certainly isn't oxidised. Delightfully different. Nothing like a typical Napa Cab! Great fun to drink already with good balance of fruit and refreshment and delightful fruit and accessibility. Not much tannin! 17/20 points."

Vinous Reverie Notes
“A textbook Cabernet blend: Arquils Maestro 2 Sierra Foothills 2019 ($55, 13.5%). Carlos Caruncho moonlights as a zero-zero winemaker after work as a language teacher at a school in Nevada City. The Maestro 2 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (20%) and Cabernet Franc (10%), and would satisfy anyone who enjoys lighter, greener Bordeaux blends. Initial hits of plum, candied pear and cola lead into a more vegetal profile with the impression of jalapeño pepper. Clean, balanced and savory.” ~ Esther Mobley, San Francisco Chronicle.