Winemaker Notes
The nose reveals racy aromas of blackberry jam, cherry cobbler and spicy white pepper. Plum, cherry and dried herb flavors flood the the palate, framed by a careful selection of Fusion barrel oak; savory notes imparted by the American oak, Hungarian oak elevates Zinfandels’ characteristic sweet spice and the French oak affords the wine a smooth and luxurious finish.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Silky and lengthy, with ripe darkblue fruit and red plum merging in a briar frame. White pepper and cherry pie thread through round tannins as bright acidity brings elegance to the fore. Aged for 18 months in a combina tion of French, Hungarian, and American oak.
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.