Round Pond Pool from above

2022 Gravel Series ‘The Vow’ Cabernet Sauvignon

The Vow is more than a wine, it’s a promise. Structured, expressive, and darkly elegant, The Vow is defined by velvety tannins and a deep sense of place. It’s a wine that speaks to devotion – in winemaking, in heritage, and in heart.

Crafted from some of the lowest-yielding vines on our Rutherford estate, just across from the famed Beckstoffer Georges III vineyard, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is a tribute to legacy and lineage. This block has a gravel riverbed running throughout, with soils that are extremely porous and retain less water during the growing season. We farm these individual vines with great care throughout the season to produce this deeply concentrated and intensely structured wine. This wine stands as a symbol of our enduring commitment to the land, to Rutherford, and to the generations who came before and those still to come.
 
Its name is inspired by a restored 18th-century chapel from Nova Scotia, now nestled in our private family garden. Saved from demolition and rebuilt by railcar, the chapel is a quiet sanctuary that honors the sacred bonds of love, family, and tradition.

We dedicate this wine to our siblings, with whom we walk through life and strive to make a difference for the next generation.

Gravel Series wines are the pinnacle of our portfolio. These block-designate Cabernet Sauvignons are sourced from three unique gravel microsites across our Rutherford Estate and Oakville M-Bar properties—chosen for their ability to produce wines of exceptional power, elegance, and distinction. Crafted in extremely limited quantities, these wines are available exclusively through the winery.

Accolades

“It's full-bodied, soft, plush and fairly easy to drink, then firms up a bit on the finish, showing ample concentration and rich but still ripe tannins." - 94 points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate 

“The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Gravel Series The Vow is laced with dark cherry, plum, gravel, incense, bittersweet chocolate, licorice and crushed rocks. It offers very good depth along with a good deal of mineral complexity, all in the softer style of the year."- 93 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Tasting Notes

The 2022 The Vow Cabernet Sauvignon reveals a captivating bouquet of dark cherry, black plum, and violet, layered with notes of cocoa powder, graphite, and a hint of wild sage. The palate is rich and concentrated, unfolding with flavors of blackberry compote, cassis, and espresso, framed by supple tannins and a seamless texture. Hints of baking spice and warm oak carry through a persistent finish. Powerful yet poised, this vintage beautifully balances intensity and elegance, promising to evolve with depth and nuance over the next decade.

Vineyard Notes

The 2022 vintage was the third in a string of drought years. Despite the drought, there was well-timed spring rain that boosted the vines’ vigor, allowing for nicely established canopies for both shade and photosynthesis. The weather remained relatively mild and even, with routine fog patterns cooling nighttime and morning temperatures. Our healthy vine canopies and overhead sprinklers protected fruit from the late summer heat wave. Round Pond’s “California sprawl” trellis systems provide excellent vine balance and diverse sun exposures.

Technical Details

Type:
Red
Varietal:
Cabernet Sauvignon
Region:
California
Appellation:
Rutherford
Vintage:
2022
Case Production:
10 barrels