Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesSourced from Napa Valley’s best sub regions, this blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 9% Malbec, 6% Cab Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot impresses with a luxurious mouthfeel. Violets, abundant on both the nose and palate, engage with ripe cherry, red tea leaves, and cured meats. Bold, teeth-coating tannins are balanced by the juicy character of the wine, which reaches a peak with graphite, mocha, and oak on the finish.
Aromas of stewed blackberries, spiced plums, smoked meat, olives, grilled herbs and dill. It’s full-bodied with plush tannins. Textured and well-balanced with a flavorful, juicy finish. 69% cabernet sauvignon, 13% merlot, 9% malbec and 6% cabernet franc. Drink from 2022.
The 2018 Artistry Proprietary Red is a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 9% Malbec, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it delivers gregarious scents of stewed blackberries, preserved plums and redcurrant jelly with hints of wild sage, pencil shavings, dusty soil and kirsch. The medium to full-bodied palate is soft and juicy, with bags of ready-for-business red and black fruit preserves flavors and a lively line of freshness, finishing with lovely purity.
This perennially satisfying and value-minded red blends 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 9% Malbec and smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Juicy in red currant, cassis and vanilla, it has a ripe softness and enduring richness.
For the past 40 years, Girard has been singularly dedicated to ensuring balance in their wines. This is achieved by meticulously focusing on making choices that respect the grapes and Napa Valley heritage at each step of the winemaking process. They work closely with long-time growers in both mountain and valley vineyards to ensure vines are nurtured to develop balanced sugar and acidity in the grapes when it comes time to harvest. In their state-of-the-art winery, they employ innovative barrel technology to bring out the ripe fruit characteristics during the fermentation and aging process. The dedication to quality throughout the winemaking process is evident in the consistently award-winning wines that offer richness, complexity and balance in each sip.
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.