Winemaker Notes
This exceptional vintage combines luxurious, dark fruit and exotic spices from the old vines in Darioush's Ashley Vineyard with the elegant structure and minerality from their Estate Vineyard. Saturated flavors of wild blackberries and pomegranate, complemented by a spice-box of cinnamon stick, clove, white pepper and sandalwood incense, culminate in a silky finish that lingerson the palate for more than thirty seconds. The 2003 Darioush Signature Shiraz is an unforgettable, soul-stirring wine.
A marvelous companion to aged beef tenderloin, hearty stews, MiddleEastern spiced lamb or any savory game dish.
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.
