Winemaker Notes
The dark red velvet color is deep and intense. The aromas burst forth with graphite, red currants, sweet vanilla, leather, toasty oak, licorice, and guava peel. In classic El Llano style, the palate confirms the aromas with red currant, cassis, framboise, vanilla bean, and maple. The silky tannins are well-integrated and mouthwatering and lead to an extensive and long finish.
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.