Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Complex, with gamy blackberry, fresh earth, cedar and currant flavors, it shows off a muscular side, too, with a beefy, peppery quality that gives it density and structure. Young and rambunctious, it packs in a load of intense flavors with a long, strong, persistent aftertaste. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2001 (40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Syrah, and 20% Merlot; 60% new French oak used in its upbringing) exhibits an inky purple color along with a big, sweet bouquet of creosote, tobacco leaf, blackberries, and cherries. Medium to full-bodied, with hints of peppery characteristics, moderately tannic, and persistent on the finish, it requires another 1-2 years of bottle age, and should drink well for 10+ 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.