Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Well-focused on a rich, vibrant core of ripe blackberry and wild berry fruit. This is elegant, balanced and deep, yet well-structured, ending with a long, complex finish that's trim and tight. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Best from 2009 through 2015. 5,840 cases made.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec, the outstanding 2004 Proprietary Red Wine possesses a deep ruby/purple color in addition to notes of vanilla, espresso roast, black currants, plums, and licorice. This rich, full-bodied, flamboyant, lush, heady red is best consumed over the next 12-15 years.
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.