Winemaker Notes
Lush aromatics of raspberry and dark cherry with a hint of eucalyptus, The Oracle is decadent, but with finesse. Earthiness and layers of dried flowers and cocoa integrate harmoniously into a finely balanced marriage between tannin and acid, providing the structure that ensures, like all impeccable beauties, this wine is sure to age gracefully.
Blend: 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Spiced dark and blue fruit character with dark licorice, walnuts and dried herbs. Full-bodied, firm and a little chewy with plush and mellow fruit. Chalky and lingering. A blend of 81% cabernet sauvignon, 12% cabernet franc and 7% merlot.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Miner's 2017 The Oracle turned up in this year's lineup (more than a year after the 2018). A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and 7% Merlot, it delivers textbook scents of cassis, black cherries, vanilla and cedar. It's medium to full-bodied, with a long, velvety finish; it just seems to lack that bit of mid-palate richness and depth that would make it extra special.
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.