Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Composed of 26% Merlot, 61% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Cabernet Franc, this is the first vintage made by Nick Gislason. Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Second Flight delivers slowly evolving notions of baked plums, crème de cassis and mocha with hints of unsmoked cigars, cedar chest and beef dripping plus a waft of sandalwood. Full-bodied and packed with rich, savory-laced black fruit preserves, the palate features velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long. Drinking beautifully now but should keep for 15+ years.
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Wine Spectator
Supple at points, young and herbal, this shows dried currant, herb and cedar notes that have a firm tannic grip. Second Flight, Screaming Eagle's second bottling, flies below the primary label, but shares some attributes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
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.