Winemaker Notes
Elegant with a lush, round palate, a swirl of the glass reveals deep black cherry, rose petal and star anise. The entry is silky with notes of vanilla that give way to dark fruit and cinnamon before leading to a sumptuous caramel and white pepper finish.
Pair with pork tenderloin in a plum reduction or Peking duck with hoisin sauce.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A barrel-sample blend of 63% Tempranillo, 24% Cabernet sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 6% Malbec, the 2018 The Doctor is deep garnet-purple in color and gives up fragrant black raspberries, blackberries and mulberries scents with hints of kirsch, underbrush, dried herbs and tobacco. The palate is full-bodied and laden with expressive red fruit preserves with firm, ripe tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing with an herbal lift.
Barrel Sample: 92-95
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.