Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Connoisseurs' Guide
64% Zinfandel; 27% Cabernet Sauvignon; 7% Merlot; 2% Cabernet Franc. This deep, impressively extracted version of this perennial CGCW favorite marries well-defined blackberry fruit with a layer of ripe currants, a good dose of sweet oak and touches of milk-chocolate. Its sense of layered richness and it accents of sweet earth speak to classic Napa Valley character, and, thanks to its provenance, its unique mix of grapes and the attention that the Duckhorn folks pay to it, it continues to be a more sophisticated wine than Zinfandel typically yields.
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.