Winemaker Notes
The philosophy of blending is basic to the concept of Trilogy. We approach this wine like an artist with a palette of colors. The result is a complex masterpiece of flavors and aromas that have great persistence on the palate and are tempered with a sense of elegance and finesse.
A preliminary Trilogy blend was made after malo-lactic fermentation had concluded. The wine rested quietly in small (50% new) French oak barrels until just prior to bottling. In 1998 we added Malbec to the blend for the first time and we were so pleased with the result that we included it in the 1999 version as well. The Malbec adds depth of color and an intense blueberry, black plum character to the wine.
Professional Ratings
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.