Winemaker Notes
Blend: 95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
With the highest percentage of Merlot (95% Merlot, with the balance Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 The Tempest is made with immediate appeal in mind. And it delivers. This knockout Merlot gives up a huge nose of blueberries, currants, licorice, Asian spices and chocolate. This flows to a full-bodied, gorgeously layered 2015 that has the massive, succulent fruit profile of the vintage, yet stays, pure, elegant and seamless, with building tannin. I don’t see any need to hold off, but it will keep for 15-20+ years, easily.
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James Suckling
Blueberry, blackberry, and licorice aromas follow through to a full body. Tight and juicy and fruity. Fantastic depth and intensity. Extremely long and vivid. A blend of merlot and cabernet sauvignon.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 The Tempest displays a deep garnet-purple color and wonderfully plummy nose, backed up by notions of blueberry compote, baker’s chocolate, black soil, sandalwood and Chinese five spice. Rich, curvaceous, full-bodied and velvety, it fills the palate with exotic spices, lifted by a lively acid line and finishing on a lingering menthol note.
Rating: 95+ -
Wine Spectator
A blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 The Tempest displays a deep garnet-purple color and wonderfully plummy nose, backed up by notions of blueberry compote, baker’s chocolate, black soil, sandalwood and Chinese five spice. Rich, curvaceous, full-bodied and velvety, it fills the palate with exotic spices, lifted by a lively acid line and finishing on a lingering menthol note.
Rating: 95+ -
Vinous
The 2015 The Tempest is packed with super-ripe dark fruit, chocolate, white truffle, espresso and sweet oak. All things considered, the 2015 has aged well and still has time to go, but the stylistic imprint and overall opulence here are impossible to miss. This is a terrific showing.
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.