Winemaker Notes
Darker fruited with raspberry and blackberry and hints of clove, bay leaf, tarragon and baking spices. Medium to full bodied in weight with brooding concentration. Integrated and refined tannins supported by acidity and an herbal and fruited palate.
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
When Jay Heminway replanted his Chiles Mill Vineyard in the 1990s, he selected the material from the Trentadue Ranch in Geyserville—mostly zinfandel, along with a little petite sirah, syrah, carignane, grenache and some Italian varieties. Those vines, facing northwest, produced a bright, young 2016, its mineral tannins turning from tough to savory and brisk. They open to a light electric charge sparking the blackberry flavor. Give this cellar time before opening with roast duck.
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Wine Spectator
An appealing claret style, featuring just enough briary nuances to stay zesty, with tarragon and white pepper flavors that build toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2025.
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.