Winemaker Notes
In the nose, there's bramble and black olive and an herbal/red fruit character that rolls into caramel with a hint of the typical HL black licorice after the wine opens up. "But it's a very pleasant wine and none of the herbal, youthful nose carries into the palate. The field blend of varietals gives the E II softer tannins than the signature HL, and highlights the red fruit flavors; red raspberry and cherry. It has a bold, ripe Merlot character, with Cabernet Sauvignon length. There's a definite creaminess to this wine, and a little spice that rolls off into caramel after the youth shakes off."
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.