Winemaker Notes
A deep ruby red color o ers bright fruit aromas of ripe black cherry, baked plum and notes of cassis, followed by cocoa, anise and hints of herbs de Provence. e palate is rich, soft and plush with ne grained tannin. e nish is persistent and polished with candied plum, tamarind and baked red cherries.
Blend: 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 2% Petite Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Racy and focused, with sanguine and iron notes piercing through the core of red currant and damson plum fruit. The long finish has mouthwatering cut as the minerality stays vibrant. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2022 through 2032.
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James Suckling
Fresh red plums, cherries, cloves, licorice and some peach and lavender, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with silky tannins. Ripe-fruit flavors, but a fresh feel. Mostly mountain fruit. Cabernet sauvignon and merlot with a little petit verdot.
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Jeb Dunnuck
While I wasn't able to get the blend, this cuvée is normally a Bordeaux blend dominated release that includes a handful of Italian varieties. The 2018 Proprietary Red Wine reveals a ruby hue as well as a pretty, elegant, medium-bodied style that carries plenty of redcurrant fruit, sappy herbs, green tobacco, and spring flower notes. I love its balance, and this charmer has an almost Pinot Noir-like texture, yet offers plenty of structure as well. It should evolve for at least a decade.
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.