Winemaker Notes
An intense ink with a garnet rim, the wine opens with powerful aromatics of cassis, ripe boysenberry, and chaparral with hints of graphite, sage, fire -roasted meats and fresh brioche. The entry floods the palate with ripe dark fruit flavors of blackberry and black cherries as well as fresh minerality and a touch of kir and crème de menthe. With traces of tannin, the wine finishes with a lingering sweet licorice and a smooth acidity. Overall, this vintage of Papillon truly characterizes the theme —bold and massive yet also delicate and complex.
Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Very deep purple-black colored, the 2015 Papillon Proprietary Red features expressive crème de cassis, mulberries, plum preserves and chocolate box notes with wafts of underbrush, dried herbs and Indian spices. Full-bodied, rich, opulent and spicy in the mouth, it has a velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing long with a lively pepper and herbs lift.
-
Wine Spectator
A big, rich and potent style, with layers of flavors extending from black licorice to dark berry, loamy earth, cedar and tobacco. Unfolds impressively on the palate, smooth and effortless. Cabernet blend. Drink now through 2029.
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.