Winemaker Notes
The 2021 Artistry is a complex and sophisticated wine. The nose reveals aromas of cassis, black cherry swirling with aromas of vanilla, espresso and tobacco. The palate is rich and full-bodied with flavors of ripe, lush black fruits, hints of chocolate and savory spice. Firm and refined tannins framed by well-integrated oak provide structure and balance leading to a lingering finish.
Blend: 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, 8% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Savory, sweet bay and tobacco notes peek out from behind a core of well-steeped blackberry and black currant fruit, while the grippy, tarry structure asserts itself through the finish. A touch burly in the end, but cellaring may tame that somewhat. For fans of the style. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
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James Suckling
Attractive nose with wild berries, currants, mulberries, dried herbs and hints of tar. It’s medium- to full-bodied with chewy tannins. Textural with a rich core of creamy blackberries and some chocolate flakes, too. Focused finish with excellent length.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, 8% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, Girard's 2021 Artistry Red Wine constitutes a solid value in the realm of Napa Valley. There's an attractive mix of cherries and black cherries on the nose, it's medium to full-bodied on the palate and the tannins are supple, making the wine easy to drink already. There's plenty of fruit character, some loam-like earthy scents and decent length, framed by soft, dusty tannins.
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine tastes of vanilla bean, mocha and juicy blackberry followed by the spices of toasted oak. With a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon, it has plenty of tannin for a grippy mouthfeel and a long aging potential. No hurry to drink this generous wine.
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.