Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Contrarian is bursting with black currant, blackberry, clove, vanilla, nutmeg, toffee, cherry, forest floor, violets, making a very soft entry. Black truffle, forest floor, porcini mushroom continue to shine and then compliment the cherry, plum, and cocoa on the long finish.
Blend: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Blackcurrant, black licorice and blueberry. Very pure cabernet sauvignon aromas. Mushroom and forest floor, too. Pops out of the glass! Full-bodied with chewy, polished tannins that show wonderful vivacity. Energetic and fresh at the end. Needs a few years to come together. Drink after 2026.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc and 13% Merlot, the 2019 Contrarian Proprietary Red is cedary but ripe, filled with black cherries and cassis, with just a hint of licorice. It's full-bodied and rich without being heavy, ending with notes of dark chocolate and loam on the long, velvety finish. Nearly approachable already, it should drink well for close to two decades.
-
Vinous
The 2019 Contrarian is a huge, dense wine. A blast of sweet dark cherry, plum, spice, new leather and chocolate give the 2019 its immediate, bold personality. This extroverted, plush Cabernet Sauvignon-based red packs plenty of punch. Dried herbs, lavender, chocolate and spice linger.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
I also loved the 2019 Contrarian Proprietary Red, a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot. It has a deep purple color as well as a perfumed bouquet of ripe dark berry fruits (currants, blackberries) as well as smoked earth, graphite, and truffle. Medium to full-bodied, balanced, and seamless, it has enough tannins to warrant 4-5 years of bottle age and will keep for two decades.
Rating: 94+
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.