Winemaker Notes
Blend: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot 19% Sangiovese, 9% Petit Sirah, 6% Syrah.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This innovative effort from Claus Janzen is made with the assistance of Nils Venge’s winemaker son, Kirk Venge. Concentrated, serious, and complex is the 2003 Proprietary Red, a combination of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Sangiovese, Petite Sirah, and Syrah. In contrast to the leaner, more austere and streamlined 2002, the 2003 is an exuberant, flamboyant, dense ruby/purple-colored effort offering a rich, sumptuous nose of black raspberries, spice box, cedar, subtle Provencal herbs, and earth. Full-bodied, expansive, and beautifully textured.
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.