Cabernet Sauvignon (2022)

About this wine

This California Cabernet leans into the easy charm of the variety, with generous blackberry and black cherry fruit right up front. A touch of plum gives it extra roundness, while cocoa and vanilla bring a soft, polished feel through the middle. The style is straightforward and approachable, built to show ripe fruit more than heavy structure. Capo Isetta presents this bottling as fruit forward and tied to the family spirit behind the label, which fits the wine well. The winery itself comes from a multigenerational wine family in Sonoma, with roots that go back to coopers and winery work in California, and that old school background gives the bottle a little more personality than the average everyday Cabernet. It stands out for offering classic Cabernet character in a relaxed, friendly style that feels more neighborhood table than special occasion only.

About the grape

Cabernet Sauvignon began in Bordeaux as a natural cross of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc and arrived in California in the 19th century where it became a primary red grape across the state. The variety is prized for its thick skins, firm tannins and ability to keep acidity in warm sites, and California growers typically use a range of clones and canopy and pruning strategies to control vigor and concentrate fruit. For the 2022 Capo Isetta California Cabernet Sauvignon winemaker Joe Benziger works with California fruit so the Cabernet supplies the wine with its classic structure and cellaring potential, it is commonly planted on well draining soils and managed in the vineyard to reach balanced ripeness.

Quick facts

• 👑 The label name Capo Isetta comes from Italian capo meaning chief and the winery invites you to “be a Capo” and join their table.
• 🧑‍🌾 The 2022 Cabernet was crafted with winemaker Joe Benziger credited on the bottle, linking the wine to a well known Sonoma winemaking family.
• 🔥 This California Cabernet lists a notably bold 14.1% ABV on the 2022 bottling, giving it a riper, fuller character than many everyday table wines.
• 💵 Capo Isetta priced the 2022 Cabernet at an approachable $20 on their shop, positioning this Cab as an everyday crowd pleaser from Sonoma producers.
• 🪵 The wine is a family project rooted in winemaking history with Giacamo “Giac” Isetta working as a cooper in the 1920s and later family ties to Christian Brothers Winery influencing the brand story behind the bottle.

Palate profile

Producer

Capo Isetta is a family-owned winery in Sonoma, California, with a rich heritage rooted in the wine industry. The Isetta family's involvement dates back to the 1920s when Giacomo "Giac" Isetta excelled as a cooper, crafting wine barrels. His son, Andy Isetta, continued the tradition by working at the Christian Brothers Winery and later founding the Old Pioneer Wine Company in San Francisco. Today, Capo Isetta honors this legacy by producing limited-production wines that reflect the character and complexity of Sonoma Valley's terroir. Their tasting room, located on the historic Sonoma Plaza, has become a welcoming gathering place for both locals and visitors.