Winemaker Notes
The signature of Lion Tamer is a generous palate of black raspberry and surprisingly lush tannins. For the 2015 vintage they found a secret blender – Mourvedre! Just 2% of the blend but WOW what a great touch of bright red fruit it brings. This vintage explodes with brightness – it jumps right out of the glass. Concentrated in the mid-palate and graceful in its power, the wine has gorgeous notes of cassis, clove and candied licorice wrapped in bright cherry and vanilla.
Blend: 50% Malbec, 23% Zinfandel, 11% Petite Sirah, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, 2% Mourvedre
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Composed of 50% Malbec, 23% Zinfandel and 11% Petite Sirah with smaller parts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Mourvèdre, the 2015 Proprietary Red The Lion Tamer is scented of warm blackcurrants, preserved plums and dark chocolate with touches of pencil shavings, dried Provence herbs and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with ripe black fruit and plush tannins, finishing long and lively.
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Wine Spectator
Smooth and harmonious, with supple cherry, dark berry, cedar, gravel and floral notes that glide across the palate gracefully, ending long and pure. Malbec, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2028
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
When a winery calls one of its red wines Lion Tamer, I am not sure what to think? Is the winery trying to tame the palate with a smooth and layered wine or is it showing Old and New World wine lovers that it can combine full-flavored and powerful wines and create a beverage of elegance? Offering plenty of action, the explosive 2015 Hess Collection Winery Lion Tamer satisfies everyone with an effort that is both full-throttled and stylish. This wine is beautiful with aromatic and delicious black fruit, oak, and savory spices. Pair its smooth richness with a juicy ribeye and enjoy. (Tasted: January 4, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
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.