Outward Potrero Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, San Luis Obispo

Salt-laden winds sweep through the upper reaches of the Arroyo Grande Valley, brushing across Potrero Vineyard’s dry-farmed Cabernet vines and shaping a wine that carries the valley’s wild pulse in every sip. The 2024 Outward Potrero Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon emerges from this rugged frontier with remarkable clarity, pure fruit, restrained power, and a sense of place that feels carved from the surrounding wilderness. Crafted with minimal intervention and no new oak, it offers a spirited nod to California’s earliest Cabernet traditions while standing unmistakably in the present.

Product Details:

• Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
• Vineyard: Potrero Vineyard, Arroyo Grande Valley
• Elevation: Highest site on the 3,500-acre Rancho Arroyo Grande property
• Soils: Sandy loam over diatomaceous earth
• Farming: Organic, dry-farmed, regenerative-leaning practices
• Harvest: Early & mid-October; two separate picks
• Fermentation: 100% destemmed; native yeast; ~20 days on skins
• Aging: 10 months in neutral French oak barrels (including one puncheon)
• Alcohol: 13%
• Chemistry:
  • pH 3.68 
  • TA 5.6 g/L 
  • RS 0.1 g/L
• Cases Produced: 302
• Additions: Minimal sulfur pre-bottling; unfined and unfiltered
• Owners / Winemakers: Natalie Siddique & Ryan Pace

Sensory Description:

The 2024 Potrero Cabernet opens with brambly dark berries, ripe plum, and cocoa powder layered over tobacco leaf and subtle wild herb tones. On the palate, it strikes a refined balance between supple tannins and lifted acidity, carrying generous fruit without heaviness. A long ribbon of vanilla, earth, and dried berry extends through the finish, shaped by the vineyard’s coastal-mountain interplay and the absence of new oak.

Winemaker's Background:

Outward Wines is the joint project of Natalie Siddique and Ryan Pace, who farm and craft small-lot, site-specific wines across California’s Central Coast. Their work centers on organically farmed, coastal-influenced vineyards and a cellar philosophy rooted in native yeast fermentations, gentle handling, and aging exclusively in neutral barrels. With vineyards stretching from the SLO Coast to Santa Ynez, Outward pursues transparency of place, highlighting each site’s natural character through minimal intervention and thoughtful, hands-on farming.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve at 60–65°F for optimal aromatic detail. This Cabernet shines alongside grilled tri-tip, roasted lamb, mushroom-herb galettes, charred broccolini, or aged cheeses. Its combination of freshness, structure, and savory nuance makes it equally compelling at the dinner table or as a contemplative solo pour.

The 2024 Outward Potrero Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a compelling tribute to California’s early, unembellished Cabernet style, pure fruit, honest farming, and a landscape allowed to speak for itself. With its limited production and rugged coastal pedigree, it stands as one of the most expressive and distinctive wines in the Outward portfolio.