Winemaker Notes
Pair with the usual meaty suspects, leaning toward cuts like flank and skirt, with balsamic or rosemary in the preparation. Drink from now through 2040.
Blend: 23% Cabernet Franc, 23% Petit Verdot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Malbec, 18% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of blackberries, cedar, spices and black cherries. The palate is full-bodied with finely grained tannins and balanced acidity, giving a lush and vibrant fruit-driven finish. A blend of the five main red Bordeaux varieties in equal proportions. Drink or hold.
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.