The Healdsburg-based winery showcases 20 years of devotion to Bell Mountain Vineyard with the inaugural release of an extremely limited barrel selection.
Healdsburg, Calif., August 31, 2022 – To signify and commemorate two decades of discovery, growth and development at Bell Mountain, Medlock Ames is proud to debut a new, limited-production wine: the 2019 The Flag Cabernet Sauvignon. This Cabernet represents the pinnacle of Bell Mountain Vineyard and embodies the promise that co-founder Ames Morison saw in this estate over 20 years ago. A premier Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon with nuance, balance, and refreshing acidity, The Flag was first released in a preview sale in April 2022. The highly anticipated and awarded wine will be shipped on November 1, 2022.
The Flag Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted by winemaker Abby Watt to capture the best of the best of Medlock Ames’ unique terroir at Bell Mountain Vineyard, beginning with the 2019 vintage. “Twenty-five years of farming at Bell Mountain has led to continued improvement and intimate knowledge of our land,” says Abby. “With our location in the foothills of the Mayacamas and one of the cooler spots in Alexander Valley, we experience vast differences in microclimates. This provides me flexibility in how I pick to create over 50 different lots of Cabernet in the cellar. The variety of lots catalyzed the need for a special blend that captures the magic of Bell Mountain and the outstanding cabernet that is grown here.”
Since its inception, Medlock Ames has been on a journey to make the best wine possible from its Bell Mountain vineyard. When Ames discovered this special property at the southernmost tip of the Alexander Valley, which crosses into the Russian River Valley, he instantly saw its potential. Armed with a clear vision of the site’s promise, The Flag encapsulates Ames’ 20-years of devotion to and storied history on Bell Mountain.
“This wine epitomizes our history with and commitment to preserving Bell Mountain,” Ames shares. “When I first saw Bell Mountain over 20 years ago, I knew that it had unmatched potential to create premier wines and The Flag represents the highest potential that this land produces. With the knowledge of 20 vintages of Cabernet, we’re able to pinpoint almost to the vine which are going to produce the best of the best in our vineyard.”
The wine is named in honor of the Russian River Flag, a newspaper, owned and published in Healdsburg in the 1860s by Ames’ great-great grandfather, John Gilson Howell. The label of The Flag is adorned by a reprint of the original publisher’s letter that Mr. Howell wrote when launching the newspaper. “The letter resonated with me because many of the ideals referenced, such as truth, liberty, and integrity, encompass how I have always wanted to approach Bell Mountain,” shares Ames. “We are grateful to be a steward to this land which gives us so much, and our commitment to sustainability is a way to personify those ideals.”
This wine, which has already received a score of 94 points from James Suckling, offers powerful aromas of blackberry, coffee bean, and cocoa powder with notes of fresh herbs, walnut, and lavender. On the palate the wine provides a dense juicy core surrounded by silky, velvety tannins and shows flavors of currant and fennel, followed by a long, lingering impression of concentrated wild berries. 2019 The Flag is exclusively available in a three-bottle set, complete with an engraved collector’s wood box to commemorate the inaugural vintage (SRP: $600).
For more information about Medlock Ames’ wines, history, new releases and upcoming celebratory events, please visit www.medlockames.com and follow Medlock Ames on Instagram and Facebook at @medlockames.
About Medlock Ames
Medlock Ames Winery was formed in 1998 by college best friends, Ames Morison and Chris Medlock James. Their shared passion for wine inspired them to leave their New York City apartment and move across the country to produce award-winning wines from Sonoma’s Bell Mountain Ranch, which straddles the Alexander and Russian River Valleys. The winery is deeply committed to preserving Bell Mountain Vineyard and its surrounding areas; co-founder Ames Morison is a vocal supporter of organic, light-touch agricultural practices and gentle winemaking techniques to unearth the purest representations of the terroir. Today, Medlock Ames specializes in Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon, which balances the Old and New World in style and technique.
