Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Mostly cabernet sauvignon, with small amounts of other Bordeaux varieties and 3 percent syrah, this blend is designed for ready enjoyment. At our tasting, however, it was tighter than that would imply, firm and gripping with blackberry and eucalyptus scents over earthy, lean tannin. Panelist Gilian Handelman commented, "You could put this wine down and it wouldn't be teriyaki when you opened it."
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Wine Spectator
Top Value. Offers aromas of ripe plum and berry, with spice and sage. Though firm and full-bodied, this reveals a sense of elegance and finesse, ending with integrated tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2010 through 2016.
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.