Winemaker Notes
Saturated, opaque, deep purple. Spice, cedar, mint and cinnamon in the initial notes as it warms from cellar temp. Cocoa, black cherry liqueur and blueberry on the palate, transitioning to firm tannins and pretty, fragrant oak and violet-floral notes on the finish.
With food, this wine becomes chocolatey, bittersweet and smooth, with a long finish. Sure to be a crowd-pleaser. There's plenty of structure for tannin lovers. A thick slice of Tuscan salami, salty, fatty and peppered, tames the tannins, and brings out this wine's softer, lush and fruity side.
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.