About this winery

Why Matchbook? As a farm kid growing up in the late 1950´s and early 1960´s John Giguiere was a confirmed pyromaniac starting various things on fire such as his father´s wheat field. At one point, fearing total ruin from his kids burning him out of the house and farm, his father took them to the city jail for an hour stay to impress upon his brother and him the futility of their fascination with fire. John and his brother answered at a later date by graduating from random fires to the...

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Product notes

East of Napa, Left of Center: The Giguiere family embodies Dunnigan Hills winemaking. In 1981 they pioneered grape-growing in this region when they planted their very first vineyard. By 1993 they’d succeeded in making the Dunnigan Hills a nationally recognized American appellation. The Matchbook flame is an homage to the Giguiere brothers’ youthful fascination with fire. Today Matchbook Wine Company produces over 15 wines showcasing the varietals that perform best in a warm, dry climate.

Production notes

The estate grown grapes were gently crushed and fermented in small temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. A combination of specially selected yeast was used to enhance color and flavor extraction without harsh tannins. The tanks were pumped over twice daily until nearly dry, then pressed and aged the wine in a combination of French, Hungarian and American oak barrels for 14 months. The best barrel lots were chosen for this complex blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec to create a boldly flavored Dunnigan Hills Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tasting notes

The 2017 Matchbook Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted from grapes grown entirely in the winery's Dunnigan Hills vineyards. Enticing dusty cherry-tobacco aromas lead to brambly blackberry and mocha flavors layered with chocolate and dried cranberry. The mouth-filling flavors linger in the finish with soft, but firm tannins. This a Cabernet that pairs well with a slow roasted prime rib, a hearty beef stew or a sizzling New York strip steak.