2021 Far Mountain Fission Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District 750 ml

When the critics at Decanter tasted the 2021 Far Mountain Fission, they said it shows “so much respect for the site.”

That’s because Alta Vista Vineyard is a site that demands respect. 

Just getting there practically requires a Polaris Ranger. It’s a climb through the Mayacamas’ rugged hills on narrow, scrub-lined roads. But 1,650 feet up, the vineyard is a sight to behold. Sitting at one of the region’s highest elevations, 50-year-old dry-farmed vines stand guard over crumbly volcanic soil, on terraces that follow the hill’s contours and offer a range of exposures. 

It’s an awe-inspiring site matched only by the wine it produces. Based on Alta Vista fruit, the 2021 Fission is a powerful, refined Cabernet, corralling the energy of its mountainside home into a sophisticated structure. Polished tannins frame black fruit while acidity carries savory undertones to a spice-inflected finish. James Suckling awarded it 95 points while Vinous awarded 94, calling it “a gorgeous wine” with “tons of complexity.” 

On the western slopes of Mount Veeder, Moon Mountain is one of Northern California’s most exciting AVAs. The old vines here are twice the age at which most California vines must be replanted, and their deep root systems (reaching down 20–40 feet) mean they can handle the heat. The poor soils, combined with wind and vine age, produce low yields of spindly clusters. 

The Far Mountain team treats that fruit as delicately as possible—hand-picking, initiating spontaneous fermentation and using gentle pump-overs. After 12 months in 35% new French oak, this is an intricate and balanced Cabernet with a decade-plus left in the tank.