Winemaker Notes
Medium ruby color. Super ripe, fragrant blackberry, black pepper, shavings and an herbal note in the aromatic profile. Medium-full body. Yummy, round fruit with pleasant, subtle structure, and just a touch of brightening acid in the finish. Easy drinking as always.
Light enough to pair with heartier vegetarian dishes. The lift of acidity in the wine means that it pairs well with spaghetti bolognese, or any pizza or pasta, and medium-intensity dishes without excessive richness.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Well built and well packed with black-fruit flavors, this massive wine is dense in blackberries, blueberries and black-pepper flavors. Firm tannins match its excellent concentration and bode well for further aging.
Cellar Selection -
James Suckling
Aromas of red cherry, black cherry and white pepper. Medium-bodied with soft tannins. Wet-mineral character mixes with the ground spice and dark, fresh fruit on the palate. Nicely focused.
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.