Winemaker Notes
This dry, full-bodied wine opens with an expressive, perfumed bouquet of red cherries, blackberries, cassis, and red currants layered with vanilla, caramel, sweet spice, and hints of violet, red rose petal, graphite, tobacco leaf, wild thyme, and rosemary. Flavors of black cherry, cassis, and red berries unfold into savory dried herbs, earth, and mineral nuances. firm, refined tannins and bright acidity create a silky, mouthwatering texture, carrying through a long, satisfying finish. Petit Verdot and Malbec contribute color intensity, structural backbone, and added depth, enhancing both complexity and age-worthiness. There is a strong sense of place, balancing opulent fruit and polished texture with unmistakable earthy Rutherford Dust and a lingering mineral tension.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is all about perfume and opulence, with aromas of blue and black fruit, sweet spices, violets and graphite. The palate is silken, with bright acidity and refined tannins that leave a plush, mouthwatering finish. A well-composed blend of 61% cabernet sauvignon, 12% merlot, 10% cabernet franc, 10% malbec, 4% touriga and 3% petit verdot. Delicious. Drink or hold.
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Decanter
Cedar wood, chocolate, mocha, dark and ripe blackberry and blackcurrant, hints of thyme, and rosemary can be found on the nose, along with a cinnamon cola-like aroma. A dense, framed entrance gives way a massive, structured, minty palate with touches of ripe, macerated dark fruit. Extremely well-framed, it reminds me a lot of Rutherford in its Rutherford dust compartment. Aromas of fern, freshly picked blackcurrant, dark cherry, and macadamia nuts and hazelnut linger on the dry finish.
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Wine Spectator
A fruit-forward style, with a plump core of cherry and plum backed by light-handed toast. Shows the vintage's juicy edge, with savory flecks on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Touriga Nacional and Petit Verdot.
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.