Winemaker Notes
Blend: 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 22% Malbec, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Red Blend is composed of 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 22% Malbec, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The nose offers vibrant berry scents with accents of charcuterie, mint chocolate, cigar wrapper, violets and pencil shavings aromas, and the palate is powerful but featherweight, silky and fresh with a very long, layered finish. I love this balance of ripe fruit, mineral nuance, aromatic purity and structural power. This has the potential to grow into even more of a beauty with some time in bottle. Rating: 96+
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Tasting Panel
Spiced cedar, blackberry-tinged earthiness, and coffee liqueur combine in this heady, shadowy blend of 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 22% Malbec with small percentages of Cab Franc and Petit Verdot. Stunning and generous, it shows a Port-like intensity of fruit, while savory notes of dried fruits and espresso keep things lively.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2018 Bordeaux Red Blend is based on 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 22% Malbec, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, all from Alexander Valley. Another inky-hued beauty from this talented winemaker, it offers loads of ripe black fruits, chocolate, baking spices, and licorice, full-bodied richness, a round, supple texture, and outstanding length. It's a rich, blockbuster-styled effort that pushes on the ripeness level yet stays balanced and light on its feet.
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Wine Enthusiast
With nearly equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this blend includes Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot as well. Together they offer a seamless palate of velvety, meaty and structured dark fruit and tannins, tasting of toasted oak, plum, hazelnut and grilled meat.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Nearly a northern extension of Napa Valley, Alexander Valley starts just north of the small, Knights Valley, and is just a few minutes drive from the Napa town of Calistoga. It is Sonoma County’s hottest AVA. But the Russian River, which runs through the valley, creates cooler pockets and its soft, alluvial soil is ideal for grape growing, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, some believe that Alexander Valley Cabernets truly rival the best from Napa Valley and many of the heavy-hitter producers have largely invested here.
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up over 50% of plantings, Merlot and old vine Zinfandel thrive here. Ample, fleshy Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate white wine production. Some old-vine plantings of Grenache have also been discovered and more recent experiments with Sangiovese and Barbera show great promise.