Winemaker Notes
Deep ruby red with a reddish rim. Well defined bright aromas of cassis, plum jam and cherry are accented by notes of black pepper, licorice, sweet potato and purple flowers. Medium full-bodied with lively, balanced flavors of ripe cherry, cassis and strawberry along with hints of oregano and cedar.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Rich, dark-fruited character with hints of coffee, toasted walnuts and wet earth. Full and intense, it shows a complex and layered profile on the palate with a succulent core, finishing spicy and warm. Long and deep. Try after 2027.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Juicy red, blue, and black fruits, chocolate, baking spices, and candied flower notes all emerge from the 2022 Proprietary Red Wine, a medium-bodied, plump, round, supple 2022 that was brought up in 30% new French oak, with a portion barrel fermented. It has solid depth of fruit and outstanding length, all making for a charming.
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.