Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Big Zinfandels rarely show quite the degree of refinement that this very deep, wonderfully fruity rendition does, and there is a purity and precision about its ripe berry fruit that makes us wish that the grape had not become as scarce as it is in Napa Valley. It is full, slightly supple and very well-balanced for the big wine that it is, and its constant, unwaveringly fruity finish is firmed by plenty of neatly placed structural tannin that ensures many years of improvement ahead.
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Wine Spectator
Muscular and dense, with aromas of plum and dark chocolate, offering complex but slightly closed flavors of blackberry, licorice and pepper. Hands off for now. Best from 2016 through 2022.
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.