Alta Quatreaux 2013
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Blend: 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot
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Wine & Spirits
Fred Oliai, a tech entrepreneur, grows ten acres of cabernet at his Alta vineyard on the eastern slope of Atlas Peak. This is the first release of Quatreaux, in which he blends that cabernet sauvignon (38 percent) with merlot (35 percent) from Stagecoach Vineyard, cabernet franc from Sugarloaf Mountain and petit verdot from Greenwood in Calistoga. It shows the potent extract of 2013 with purple fruit and black tannins, their astringency adding some herbal savor to the espresso notes from oak. It’s edgy with mountain tannins, warm and savory, suited to a few years of aging and enjoyable now if you decant it for a lean cut of beef.
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine combines 38% Cabernet Sauvignon with 35% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, with fruit from Stagecoach and Alta vineyards contributing to the mix. Dusty tannin and a weight of leather saddle permeate the nose and palate, with graphite puncturing through the soft texture and finish.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.