Winemaker Notes
Fresh cherries top a deep and concentrated nose layered with cardamom, California bay leaf, warm cinnamon and white pepper. Juicy ripe plum, cocoa nibs and espresso are carried by elegant tannins, with undercurrents of sour cherry adding to the palate’s brightness.
Pair with coffee-crusted Ahi tuna or drunken goat cheese
Blend: 65% Tempranillo, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, 3% Syrah
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The relative bargain in the lineup from Krupp Brothers is the full-bodied 2019 The Doctor Red Wine Stagecoach Vineyard, a blend of 65% Tempranillo, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, 3% Syrah and 2% Petit Verdot. Aged 21 months in 80% new French oak, there's a pronounced barrel influence in the form of caramel, cedar, cinnamon and clove, but the cassis and blackberry fruit underneath seems ripe and should emerge with a bit of time in the cellar.
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.