Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet colored with a lingering touch of purple, the 2007 J Daniel Cuvee has a beautifully expressive nose of warm cassis, blackberry compote and blueberry pie with touches of baking spices, vanilla pod, mocha, forest floor and black olives plus a waft of violets. Big, super rich and full-bodied, it delivers powerful, mouth-filling black fruit layers with a plush frame and invigorating freshness, finishing with incredible length and perfume.
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.