Our Rating
Sonoma
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley is often defined by its established giants, but the region’s dynamism frequently comes from its smaller, more nimble producers. Afterwords Wines fits this latter category as it brings a distinct literary theme to its portfolio. The 2023 Anecdote Cabernet Sauvignon represents a new chapter for the brand, focusing on the specific terroir of the Vaca Mountains. Sourced primarily from the Coombsville AVA, a region known for its extended growing season and moderating fog, this wine aims to balance the inherent power of Cabernet Sauvignon with the fresh acidity typical of the area. It is a focused expression designed to showcase site specificity over heavy-handed intervention.
Afterwords Wines is the personal project of Anton and Lisa Van de Plas, who established the brand to write their own narrative in Napa Valley. Anton is a veteran of the region’s luxury wine scene, bringing deep industry acumen to this project. His expertise was honed through years of leadership at prestigious estates, where he helped shape the legacies of high-end Napa wineries.
For those familiar with his career, Anton’s influence is perhaps best recognized during his time at Gandona Estate. You can read more about his background and philosophy in our interview, Anton Van de Plas and the Gandona Winery Story. His experience there, managing the complexities of hillside farming and elite production, provided the foundation for Afterwords. To understand the caliber of estate he helped lead, look at the history of Gandona Estate. Today, Afterwords focuses on ultra-small lot production, often releasing fewer than five barrels of a specific wine. This limited scale allows for meticulous oversight, ensuring the final bottle reflects their intent of power with restraint.
The winemaking at Afterwords is led by Julien Fayard, a figure well-versed in both French tradition and Napa modernity. Originally from France, Fayard gained experience at prestigious estates including Château Lafite Rothschild and Smith Haut Lafitte before moving to Napa Valley to work alongside Philippe Melka. Fayard’s style is often characterized by a hands-off approach that favors terroir expression. He tends to produce wines that possess structural integrity and age-ability without sacrificing immediate fruit purity. His involvement suggests a wine that will prioritize elegance and integrated tannins rather than just extraction and alcohol.
The wine pours a deep and concentrated ruby that is nearly opaque at the core, fading slightly to a vibrant magenta rim. It shows moderate to high viscosity, leaving slow-moving tears on the glass that hint at its structure.
The nose is immediately lifted and distinct, led by floral aromatics of African violets, lilac, and fresh lavender. Underneath the floral top notes there is a solid foundation of dark fruit, specifically blackberry, boysenberry, and dark plum. Savory elements of old cedar box, pipe tobacco, and a touch of graphite add complexity and prevent the fruit from appearing one-dimensional.
On the palate the Anecdote delivers a clear and focused structure. The attack brings forward black cherry and cassis which quickly transitions into savory notes of dried herbs and baking spice. The tannins are firm and grippy but polished, indicating good vineyard management and careful extraction. Acidity is bright and persistent, a hallmark of the Coombsville fruit source, cutting through the density of the wine. The finish is long and tapering, leaving residual notes of cocoa powder and dried sage.
The Anecdote Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 is a confident and well-executed expression of Napa Valley Cabernet. It avoids the trap of being overly jammy or sweet, instead relying on a backbone of acidity and tannin to drive the experience. While the fruit is ripe and present, the wine’s defining features are its savory depth and floral aromatics. It is a serious bottling that demonstrates the potential of its hillside sites and the technical skill of its winemaker. This is a wine that delivers concentration without excess, making it a worthy addition to any cellar focused on modern California Cabernet.
USA
Sonoma
Cabernet Sauvignon
14
Julien Fayard
60 minutes
Now to 2035
Afterwords Wines
