Winemaker Notes
Blend: 69% Merlot, 10% Syrah, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petite Verdot, 7% Malbec
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A wine with blackberry, chocolate and spice character. Full body, round tannins and a long finish. A blend of merlot and cabernet sauvignon, with hints of malbec, syrah, and petit verdot. Delicious. Drink now.
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Wine Spectator
Sleek and well-structured, no easy feat for 2011. Aromas of black cherry, tomato leaf and mocha open to fleshy flavors that wrap around a core of balanced tannins and acidity. Notes of red currant, fresh herb and cedar lace the finish. Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Drink now through 2020.
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.