The American Vine Rating
Drink Window
2024–2030
Boordy's terroir-driven Chesapeake Icons Cabernet — a classically structured Maryland Cabernet Sauvignon from the state's oldest winery.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Deep ruby with a narrow garnet rim.
Aroma: Blackcurrant and black cherry up front, with cedar, graphite, and a subtle green bell pepper note that speaks to the cool edge of the Maryland growing season.
Palate: Medium-to-full bodied with firmer, more classical Cabernet tannins than the flagship blend — cassis and dark plum at the center, vanilla and toasted oak from barrel aging, and bright balancing acidity.
Finish: Medium-long and dry, with dark fruit, a savory herbal thread, and fine-grained tannins that suggest short-term cellaring..
Food Pairings
Grilled steak, braised short ribs, portobello mushrooms, aged gouda
About the Wine
The French Oak aged Cabernet Sauvignon is part of Boordy's Chesapeake Icons series, the terroir-focused tier of the winery's Landmark lineup that pairs Chesapeake imagery with wines grown and made in Maryland. The warm 2022 vintage ripened the fruit fully while the Long Green Valley's cool nights preserved the variety's signature structure and freshness.
About Boordy Vineyards
Boordy Vineyards in Hydes, Maryland is the state's oldest winery, with roots in the Long Green Valley dating to 1945. Eight decades on, it remains a benchmark for East Coast winemaking and the anchor of the Maryland wine industry.
The American Vine's Take
A honest, classically styled Cabernet that shows what Maryland ripeness can deliver without overdosing on oak — the terrapin on the label is fitting company for a wine that is unmistakably Chesapeake. Not a bad choice at an $18 price point.
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