Winemaker Notes
Sticking to their concept of blending Zin with Bordeaux varietals, Coupe de Foudre used Cabernet Sauvignon to provide the heavy lifting of the backbone of this wine. Zinfandel’s bright aromatic and fresh preserve palate integrate well with the heartier cassis like Cabernet characters. Grenache really provides the spicy element on this 2018.
Blend: 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Zinfandel, 21% Grenache
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Starting with the 2018 Les Bouquinistes, this beautiful field blend reveals a ruby/purple color to go with an up-front, complex bouquet of red and black fruits, spring flowers, candied orange, and cedar pencil. Medium to full-bodied, it has a rounded, charming, supple mouthfeel, terrific overall balance, and a great finish, all making for an already delicious red blend from Napa that I would be happy to drink any time over the coming 5-7 years, if not upwards of a decade.
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James Suckling
Lots of plums and currants with chocolate, walnut and vanilla character. It’s medium-bodied with round, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. A little tight at the end. Better after 2022.
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.