Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2022 Avoyelles Oakville checks in as 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Cabernet Franc, and the balanced Petit Verdot that was brought up in new barrel. It has a stunning nose of ripe currants, blackberries, iron, graphite, new leather, and violets. A complete, balanced, medium to full-bodied 2022, it has the ripe, seamless, open style of the vintage, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's beautiful today and should be one of the longer lived 2022s, with a solid 15-20 years of overall longevity.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Avoyelles Oakville Ranch—a blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 100% new French oak—boasts enticing floral accents to its black cherry fruit. It's full-bodied but somehow light on its feet, finishing with silky, fine-grained tannins and hints of licorice.
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Vinous
The 2022 Avoyelles is a very pretty, soft wine. Crushed flowers, mint, espresso, blood orange, spice and pomegranate all grace this attractive mid-weight wine. Enticing floral top notes lift the finish. This is nicely done.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Home to some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon in America, Napa Valley’s Oakville district stretches across the center of Napa's valley floor and foothills between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. This AVA is home to the legendary To Kalon Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard, as well as many powerhouse wineries including Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Far Niente and Groth.
The climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle tug of war between warmer inland air and the cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.
Cabernet here is often bottled varietally but is also popular in Bordeaux Blends. Oakville wines are known for their silky, sensual textures, structured tannins, dark and brooding fruit and lovely aromatics. These age-worthy and prestigious wines are favored by collectors throughout the world.