Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A blend of 47% Malbec, 24% Zinfandel, 19% Petite Sirah, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Carignan, the 2019 Red Blend Lion Tamer sports a healthy ruby hue to go with juicy, fruit-forward notes of blueberries, strawberries, violets, and spice. Ready to go, medium to full-bodied, silky, and pure, it almost reminds me of a great Côtes du Rhône, strangely enough. It's not something to age, but the balance is spot on, it has terrific purity, and it’s just a delicious, high-quality red to drink over the coming couple of years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This year's blend is 47% Malbec, 24% Zinfandel, 19% Petit Syrah, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% each Petit Verdot and Carignan, making the 2019 Lion Tamer Red Blend one of Napa's more eclectic efforts. It offers bold cherry-berry fruit in a full-bodied, supple format. It doesn't have much structure, so enjoy it over the next several years, while the soft tannins on the finish still give it some support.
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Wine Enthusiast
Combining Malbec, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon and pinches of Petit Verdot and Carignan, this is a rich and densely packed red that is supple on the palate in integrated tannin. Dark plum, vanilla, cherry cola and toasted oak give it a crowd-pleasing approachability.
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.