Winemaker Notes
Pairs well with herb-crusted rack of lamb or boeuf bourgignon.
Blend: 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 17% Petite Sirah, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Like the Tarot releases, the 2015 Confession Napa Valley Red is charming, balanced and pretty, with hints of black cherries, black raspberries, violets, vanilla and incense. It has plenty of dark fruit, lots of juicy fruit, fine tannin, and a great finish.
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James Suckling
Plum and berry with some spice and fruit tea undertones. Full body, round and soft tannins yet a linear edge at the end. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Composed of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot with smaller parts of Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, the 2015 Confession Napa Valley Red has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and is scented of cassis, kirsch and baked raspberries with plenty of baking spice, incense and cigar box notions in the background, with an herbal waft. Medium to full-bodied, it has a very pretty floral perfume boosting the fruit with a chewy texture and nice savory finish.
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.