Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2000 Cuvee Lola (a blend of 75% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot) is one of the vintage's superstars. It is thick and juicy, with great fruit, fabulously complex aromas (Asian spices, coffee, chocolate, black cherries, blackberries, and cassis), and a dense, vibrant (because of the high percentage of Cabernet Franc) personality, it gracefully conceals its 14.5% alcohol. Sadly, there are only 250 cases. My apologies to Bob Hitchcock and Les Behrens for writing a year and a half ago that this wine was named after their dead cat (that's the Ode to Picasso). As they reminded me, the Cuvee Lola honors "a live daughter." It should drink beautifully upon release, and over the following decade.
Range: 91-93
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.