Winemaker Notes
An elegant expression of the Farella vineyard. Aromas of bright fruit, cherry blossom, blackberry, tar, fresh fig, plum, cassis, tar, and chocolate. Smooth entry and picks up weight as it rests heavy on the tongue. Blackberry and earth dance around before finishing completely balanced. This wine is greater than the sum of its parts.
Blend: 65.55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32.78% Merlot, 1.67% Malbec
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A pretty nose of blackberries, pomegranate, chocolate, dried flowers and sweet spices. Medium body with fine tannins and lively acidity. Fresh and balanced with crunchy and fruity character. Bright and succulent finish. Tight at the end. Nicely crafted.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon and one-third Merlot, the 2018 Alta Red Wine boasts aromas of cedar, baking spices, black cherries and cassis. Full-bodied, velvety-rich in texture, with a long, mouthwatering finish, this is a fine effort from Coombsville, drinkable now or capable of being aged for a decade-plus.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Situated in the southeastern corner of Napa Valley in the Vaca range, the vineyards of the Coombsville AVA enjoy a long growing season mitigated by cool, San Pablo Bay fog.