Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The serious 2012 Proprietary Red Paradise Hills Vineyard is composed of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and dollops of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This wine tips the scales at 14.4% alcohol, not all that high in such a ripe year. Aromas of barbecue smoke, graphite, blackberries and crème de cassis are followed by a wine with silky tannins and a long, opulent, full-bodied finish. This terrific 2012 is surprisingly drinkable at an early age for a Blankiet wine. Enjoy it over the next 15-20 years.
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James Suckling
Extremely floral and fresh with rose, lavender, and hints of wet earth. Dusty and stoney. Full body plus firm and tight tannins with blueberry, shaved chocolate and a long finish. Flavorful and rich.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
One of Napa Valley's most historic sub-appellations, Yountville spreads through some of the valley's ideal cooler sites and enjoys success with a handful of different and significant grape varieties.
Syrah competes strongly with Cabernet Sauvignon here for optimal vineyard real estate followed by Pinot noir, Pinot blanc and Sauvignon blanc.
This sub-AVA of Napa Valley is rich in the history that makes Napa Valley what it is today, and not just for red wines. Moët & Chandon entered the California winemaking business via Yountville in 1973 with the establishment Domaine Chandon. Their goal has always been to produce top quality méthode champenoise sparkling wines.
Christian Moueix, originally responsible for managing Chateau Petrus and La Fleur-Petrus in Pomerol, arrived in Yountville in the early 1980s. He formed a partnership with Rohin Lail and Marcia Smith, inheritors of Napanook vineyard from their father John Daniel of Inglenook in Rutherford. In 1995 Moueix became sole owner of Napanook and chose the name Dominus, which today produces some of Napa’s highest scoring, age-worthy Bordeaux Blends.