Onus Wines

In the wearisome world of carbon-copy Cabs and shallow Chardonnays it is truly refreshing to encounter an up and coming winery hell-bent on building their brand based on both varietal and appellation integrity. In the Mokelumne River AVA of Lodi the Peterson brothers of Onus Winery are doing just that.

The Peterson family has been a part of Lodi’s rich viticultural heritage since 1904. In launching Onus Winery, Brad Peterson and his two brothers, Marty and Phillip, have successfully captured the combined toil, pride, and expertise gained through four generations and over one hundred years of growing winegrapes in Lodi Wine Country.

Their debut Cabernet Sauvignon release from the 2003 vintage exhibits qualities consonant with the massive structure yet refined fruit, that even in youth are the hallmarks of a well-made California Cabernet. The wine draws its strength and character from fifteen year old vines hailing from the Mokelumne River Appellation of Lodi Wine Country. A two day cold soak and fermentation on oak dust prepared this stunner for its twenty-seven month hibernation in oak barrels, twenty percent of which were new French and Pennsylvanian wood with the balance of the barrels being neutral.

Reviewed February 6, 2007 by Dave Chandler.