Winemaker Notes
The 2001 D'Aventure is our first blend of predominantly Grenache (44%). The rest of the blend includes 23% Syrah, 14% Carignan, 12% Mouvedre, 4% Cinsault, and 3% Napa Gamay. For something new we took some Grenache cuttings, dried them and added them into our open bin fermentors to add more pepper and spice.
The 2001 D'Aventure is deep purple in color and explodes with aromas of dried raspberries, plums, and wild cherries as well as hints of white pepper, earth and herbs (garrigue). This wine is full bodied, with long fruit flavors and a richly textured creamy palate sensation.
I feel that we are starting to capture the flavors and essences we started out trying to obtain, but we're not done yet! We drink this wine with virtually anything and it will cellar well for at least the next 5 to 7 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.