Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
A rich, sophisticated effort, this is dense and robust, delivering tiers of zesty wild berry, blackberry, spice, oak, mocha and licorice notes. The flavors glide through the finish, with a grip of tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2028.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Bryant family’s 2013 DB4 is from younger parcels of the estate vineyard blended with fruit that Don Bryant, the proprietor, purchases from David Abreu’s vineyards, such as the Madrona, Thorevilos and Howell Mountain sites. This wine has a deep ruby/purple color and sexy, up-front notes of chocolate, mulberry, blackcurrants and forest floor. It is lush, fleshy and totally captivating. This lovely, medium to full-bodied, plush and precociously styled wine can be drunk now or cellared for another 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.