Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Black plums, black cherries, mint, new leather and licorice are some of the many notes that flow from the 2009 Zinfandel. This big, explosive Zinfandel is literally bursting with detail and varietal nuance. An extroverted, highly expressive finish rounds things out in style. Anticipated maturity: 2011.2015.
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Wine Spectator
Burly and ripe, yet complex, offering loamy blackberry aromas and layered, jammy flavors of cherry and blueberry that show notes of licorice and caramel. Firm tannins sneak in on the finish. Drink now through 2018. 1,000 cases made.
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.