Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Phenomenal aromas of raspberries, flowers and stones. Full body, round tannins and a long, long finish. Tangy dark fruits. Citrus. Some lemon stem. Wonderful now but better in 2016.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The medium-bodied 2010 Matriarch displays lots of blueberry and black currant fruit intermixed with hints of white chocolate, espresso, spice and background oak. Opulent and lush with sweet, well-integrated tannins, this 2010 can be drunk now and over the next 10-15 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.