Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A wonderful Zinfandel, made from grapes grown on the estate vineyard. Shows all the briary, brambly, wild berry and spice character you could ask for, in a wine that's balanced and, in its own way, elegant despite high alcohol. Just floods the mouth with blackberry jam, blueberry tart, anise and freshly crushed black pepper flavors. Best now in its flamboyant youth.
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.