Winemaker Notes
This wine comes from our uppermost mountain vineyard grown at an elevation of 2000 feet. Sobrante loam soils packed with red chert support the beautifully terraced rows, with both head trained and cordon trained vines wrapping around the face of the mountain. Cranberry compote and sarsaparilla combine with the signature Tip Top aroma of dark cherries and dusty red earth. Anise and cola linger alongside sweet holiday baking spices.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Shows structure and focus paired with brambly cherry, savory pepper and a hint of mint as this builds vibrancy toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2028. 520 cases made.
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.