Lions Head Lion Tamer Red Blend 2015
Other Red Blends
-
Robert
Parker -
Wilfred
Wong -
Wine
Spectator
4.4 Very Good
(25)
You purchased this 4/19/24
Product Details
Varietal
Producer
Vintage
2015
Size
750ML
ABV
14.8%
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Hess affectionately calls this wine “Tamer” because blending Lion Tamer is both challenging and rewarding especially when Malbec is the core. Malbec on its own brings heady floral aromas of violets and can be what I call the wild child. Big, bold and juicy upon entry, Malbec is virtually loaded with flavor. When Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon are layered in, you get complex layers of blackberries, milk chocolate, black plums and exotic perfume that carry throughout a plush texture and a ripe juicy core of black fruits.
The signature of Lion Tamer is a generous palate of black raspberry and surprisingly lush tannins. For the 2015 vintage they found a secret blender – Mourvedre! Just 2% of the blend but WOW what a great touch of bright red fruit it brings. This vintage explodes with brightness – it jumps right out of the glass. Concentrated in the mid-palate and graceful in its power, the wine has gorgeous notes of cassis, clove and candied licorice wrapped in bright cherry and vanilla.
Blend: 50% Malbec, 23% Zinfandel, 11% Petite Sirah, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, 2% Mourvedre
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Composed of 50% Malbec, 23% Zinfandel and 11% Petite Sirah with smaller parts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Mourvèdre, the 2015 Proprietary Red The Lion Tamer is scented of warm blackcurrants, preserved plums and dark chocolate with touches of pencil shavings, dried Provence herbs and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with ripe black fruit and plush tannins, finishing long and lively.
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
When a winery calls one of its red wines Lion Tamer, I am not sure what to think? Is the winery trying to tame the palate with a smooth and layered wine or is it showing Old and New World wine lovers that it can combine full-flavored and powerful wines and create a beverage of elegance? Offering plenty of action, the explosive 2015 Hess Collection Winery Lion Tamer satisfies everyone with an effort that is both full-throttled and stylish. This wine is beautiful with aromatic and delicious black fruit, oak, and savory spices. Pair its smooth richness with a juicy ribeye and enjoy. (Tasted: January 4, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
-
Wine Spectator
Smooth and harmonious, with supple cherry, dark berry, cedar, gravel and floral notes that glide across the palate gracefully, ending long and pure. Malbec, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2028
Other Vintages
2019-
Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Enthusiast
-
Wine
Spectator -
Wine
Enthusiast
-
Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker
-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Enthusiast
CAR241455_15_2015 Item# 361487