Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Plenty of black currants and licorice aromas with blueberries and hints of tar. Full body, fine tannins and an asphalt and slate finish. Drink in 2018.
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Wine Spectator
Well-proportioned, tight and smoky, with a firm, structured beam of licorice- and blackberry-tinged fruit. Ends with fine-grained tannins and a long, clean finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2030.
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.