Winemaker Notes
Alec's Blend is a lot like the Honda XR500 that Alec takes to the trails of Lefthand Canyon in Boulder, CO - big, powerful, and lots of fun. Bursting with sappy black cherry, chocolaty oak spice and Madagascar vanilla, it's a dense and delicious blend. Fruit-driven and plush but framed in fine, polished tannins, this ride will make you smile.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Alec’s Blend checks in as a blend of 61% Syrah, 38% Merlot, and the rest Petite Sirah. This deep ruby/purple-colored effort shines on all accounts and offers classy notes of blueberries, ripe black cherries, white flowers, graphite, and flowery, peppery spice. It’s medium to full-bodied, has beautiful richness and depth, yet stays lively, pure, and light on its feet. It’s a beautiful wine.
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Wine Spectator
Densely complex and expressive, with dark berry, smoky cracked pepper and cardamom flavors that build power toward big, powerful tannins. Syrah, Merlot and Petite Sirah. Best from 2020 through 2026.
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.