Winemaker Notes
Blend: 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot, 11% Malbec & 2% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Equally prodigious are the 800 cases of 2006 LMV Salon Proprietary Red, a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, and the rest the other three Bordeaux varietals (Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot). Spicy, chocolatey espresso roast notes intermixed with spring flowers and a hint of bay leaf are followed by a full-bodied wine with oodles of black currant and cherry fruit. The sweetness of the tannins, the breadth and savory mouthfeel, as well as the layered texture, make for an exceptional glass of sumptuous wine. It should drink nicely for 15+ years.
Rating: 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.