Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2001 The Heavyweight is packaged in a ponderously thick, heavy bottle that must have been designed by orthopedic surgeons. A Bordeaux blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit Verdot, and 12% Merlot, it reveals an un-Bordeaux-like alcohol level of 15.6%. The fruit sources are all high-class vineyards, including Fortuna for the Merlot and Cabernet Franc, Kenefick Ranch for the Petit Verdot, and Thorevilos for the Cabernet Sauvignon. This big, bruising offering reminds me of dry vintage port. Its style is not terribly dissimilar from two 100-point wines, the 1997 Bryant Family Vineyard and 1997 Harlan, although it does not quite have the complexity of those two efforts, hence the mid-90 point score. Amazing stuff, it boasts an unctuous texture, great density, terrific richness, and a palate-staining thickness/viscosity. Gobs of creamy black currant fruit are present in this opulent, voluptuous, over-sized, pure, unadulterated, 100% in-your-face California offering. It should drink well for 12-15 years.
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.