Winemaker Notes
2003 was a great year for Cabernet Sauvignon - as a result, the 2003 vintage of our acclaimed Bordeaux blend Trilogy has a higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon than previous vintages.
The oak and cherry nose moves into strong Cabernet flavors of black cherry, cassis and tea. These characteristics are accented by hints of raspberry from the Merlot, tobacco from the Cabernet Franc, plum from the Petit Verdot and a ruby richness from the Malbec, resulting in outstanding wine that has a strong tannin structure that will allow it to age gracefully for the next several years.
This gutsy wine has all the elegance that Trilogy is known for as well as the added benefit of full fruit flavor and body that makes it a pleasure to drink.
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.