Winemaker Notes
Blend: 30% Carignan, 27% Petite Sirah, 24% Tempranillo, 19% Graciano.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Another somewhat inexpensive wine from Mark Herold is the 2012 Collide, which is another creative blend and a major sleeper of the 2012 vintage. This is a blend of 30% Carignan from Mendocino, 27% Petite Sirah, 24% Tempranillo and 19% Graziano. I don’t think you’ll find another individualistic blend like that from anyone else in California. The wine has loads of red and black fruits, licorice, forest floor, truffle and nice meaty notes woven with bouquet garni. This is a luscious, sexy wine to drink now and over the next 4-5 years.
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.