Csaba Szakal is the proprietor and winemaker at En Garde Winery.

En Garde Winery is a small, red wine specialist located in Kenwood, Sonoma County. Their specialty is Cabernet Sauvignon blends from the heights of Napa Valley and Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. The proprietor/winemaker, Csaba Szakal, is a fourth-generation winemaker, originally from Hungary.

These two Cabernet Sauvignon-centric wines hail from the Sori Bricco Vineyard on Diamond Mountain. The sloping terrain and well-drained soil drive concentration in the grapes while the long growing season and warm days lead to gentle but effective structure.

Csaba ferments in small bins so he can treat each variety and section from the undulating, multi-aspect vineyard differently. The components are aged 10 months in oak before blending. At that point, he and his wife, Sandy, taste and make blending decisions together. Csaba says the goal is to “maintain a balanced approach with a female and male perspective.” The combination of vineyard, fruit selection and process works marvelously. These wines are pure, nimble and delicious.

2012 En Garde Winery Adamus Red Wine Diamond Mountain AVA Napa Valley 92 14.8% 750ml $100

Attractive aromas of red and black fruit, cocoa, coconut and eucalyptus. The lithe palate is medium-bodied with very fine and well-integrated tannins. Flavors include ripe and tangy red cherries, blueberry, cocoa and sweet spice.

This is a lovely blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petite Verdot and 3% Malbec, from the Sori Bricco vineyard, aged 21 months in 55% new French oak barrels. It’s flavorful but doesn’t try to hard. It’s both ready and easy to drink now, with or without food. Don’t decant now, but Adamus will gain complexity with 7+ years of bottle age.

2012 En Garde Winery Cabernet Sauvignon “Le Bijou du Roi” Diamond Mountain AVA Napa Valley 93 14.9% 750ml $120

There is a core of ripe, dark fruit with coconut and sweet spice on the nose. Medium+ body in the mouth with very fine, soft and beautifully integrated tannins. The flavors of blackberry, toasted wood, spice and chocolate are long and powerful.

96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot from the Sori Bricco vineyard, aged for 21 months in 100% new French oak. As with the Adamus, this is a graceful wine, ready to drink now and requires neither food nor decanting. It will gain complexity over 10+ years.

Tastings of En Garde are available by appointment at their Kenwood facility.

Copyright Fred Swan. Photo by Chris Hardy, courtesy of En Garde Winery. All rights reserved.