Winemaker Notes
The aromas of chocolate-covered cherry fruit with hints of black pepper & bacon make this wine enjoyable with bacon cheeseburgers and sweet potato fries. The boysenberry jam flavors are layered with orange peel, lush tannins and balanced acidity which always pair with something spicy like carnitas tacos heaped high with salsa fresca. Of course there are times when a simple glass to just unwind and contemplate what’s next is apropos. Sometimes all you need is a cozy fire and a good book!
Blend: 51% Merlot, 16% Petite Sirah, 11% Syrah, 11% Zinfandel, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Cellar 1879 Blend is made up of 51% Merlot, 16% Petite Sirah, 11% Syrah, 11% Zinfandel and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple colored, it rolls effortlessly out of the glass with pronounced plum preserves, kirsch and Black Forest cake scents with touches of cloves, star anise, potpourri and cigar box. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with spicy, expressive black and blue fruit flavors, framed by firm, chewy tannins and finishing earthy.
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.