Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This gorgeous wine is heady with a nose of red currant, cedar and tobacco, supported by firm chalky tannin. Dark-chocolate mocha layers come into play as it opens on the palate, offering a substantial mouthfeel of weighty concentration and juicy voluptuousness.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
In the wine world, finding a rich, yet elegant Cabernet Franc is quite difficult. The 2013 Mira Cabernet Franc from the famous Hyde Vineyards, showing that it is not impossible, is quite remarkable. The wine's bold red and black fruit, admirable balance of oak, and management of tannins place it at the head of the class. Pair it with a rare and juicy Porterhouse steak. (Tasted: October 4, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
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.