Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Secret Blend Red Wine is another outstanding effort and checks in as 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, sourced from five separate sites and aged 18 months in 49% new French oak. It’s a beautifully textured 2017 with lots of ripe, dark, chocolately fruit as well as subtle spice and earthy notes. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with sweet tannins and ample fruit, it’s a winner from this estate to drink over the coming decade or so.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Secret Blend is comprised of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 12% Petit Verdot. It was aged in 49% new French oak and bottled without fining/filtration. Deep garnet-purple colored, it springs forth with fragrant notions of wild blueberries, boysenberries and warm cassis plus exuberant sparks of candied violets, cinnamon stick, cloves and mossy tree bark. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is completely packed with fresh black and blue fruit, supported by a velvety texture and bags of freshness, finishing long and spicy. 372 cases made.
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.