Winemaker Notes
Blend: 45% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah, 10% Zinfandel
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2013 Proprietary Red Blend Y3 Taureau is a blend of 45% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah and 10% Zinfandel, all coming from of various sectors of Napa, ranging from Oak Knoll in the south, to Calistoga in the north. A beautifully sexy wine, with a dense purple color, big sweet kiss of blackberry and cassis liqueur, licorice and spice followed by lush, heady, full-bodied flavors that caress the palate. A beautifully rich, concentrated, irresistible style of wine to drink casually or with serious cuisine. The label is a bit wacky, but the wine certainly isn’t.
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.