Winemaker Notes
Blend: 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2006 Firebelle Proprietary Red (1,800 cases) is a blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Malbec, aged 18 months on its lees. A beautiful nose of sweet black cherries, white chocolate, coffee beans, and subtle earthiness is followed by a full-bodied, powerful, moderately tannic wine that looks set for 10-15 years of aging. It is accessible already, with its terrific aromatics and plush, succulent style. It is also a fairly priced wine from one of the benchmark vineyards of Napa Valley.
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.