Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Tapestry Reserve is wild, briary, and exotic, showcasing the true artistry of blending five Napa Valley-grown, Bordeaux-heritage grape varieties together seamlessly with nuance, complexity, and balance. True to its “sauvage” namesake, the wine exhibits a bounty of dark bramble berry fruits, with notes of blackberry, boysenberry, blueberry cobbler, wild black cherry, and red currant, alongside root spice, ginger, and musky perfume. The Merlot adds vibrancy and riper notes of black raspberry and dark plum, while softening the tannins, contributing to a velvety-rich, supple mouthfeel. Malbec adds fresh raspberry notes, while the Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot complete the blend with darker berry fruits and savory spices alongside delicate floral and woodsy nuances of black pepper, cedar, forest floor, and wild sage. Well-integrated notes of mocha and caramel, having been aged in new French oak barrels, heighten the overall aromatic expression and lengthen the spiced, multi-layered finish. The firm, grippy tannins lead to a sense of depth and will ensure the wine’s ability to age for many years to come.
Blend: 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, 13% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Redcurrants and fresh herbs with some fresh flowers and tobacco. Medium-bodied, soft and delicious with creamy tannins. Citrus at the end. 63% cabernet sauvignon, 15% malbec, 13% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. Drink and enjoy. Why wait?
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Jeb Dunnuck
Slightly better, the 2019 Tapestry Reserve (which was first made in 1990) offers lots of red and blue fruits as well as notes of tobacco and dried herbs. It's more focused, concentrated, and structured than the Napa Valley Cabernet and, I suspect, will evolve for 10-15 years.
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Wine Enthusiast
This smooth and velvety wine offers a rich, supple mouthfeel and ripe, indulgent black currant and black-cherry flavors. Light tannins counter the wine's richness, for good balance.
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Wine Spectator
A nice, plush style, with cassis and cherry compote notes rolling through, laced with singed vanilla and licorice. Reveals good underlying freshness, with an echo of violet through the finish as the fruit plays out. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2032.
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.