Winemaker Notes
Deep purple-ruby in color. Initial aromas are earthy and woodsy, with glimpses of red currant and plum jam fruit. On the palate, initially smooth, with plum jam fruit and fruity, sour and bitter components. Given a little time, it opens up nicely to a silky palate with black cherry fruit, finishing with firm, fine-grained tannins. A relatively large proportion of Cabernet for this blend at 43% makes the 2021 vintage of red initially more structured, so be sure to decant or age.
This wine would be terrific with slow-braised short ribs, a beef and wild mushroom stew, or other dishes with deep, meaty, roasted flavors.
Blend: 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Malbec, 18% Merlot, 17% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The composition of the Hendry Red Wine has evolved over the years, from a 60% Malbec offering in its first vintage (2001) to more Cabernet Sauvignon these days. The 2021 Red Wine is a blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% each Malbec and Merlot, 17% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc. It's a solid value in the Napa context, combining ripe berries and cherries with some slightly leafy elements on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is dusty and reasonably grippy, with those tannins joined by mouthwatering acids on the long finish.
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.