St. Clement Oroppas 2003 Front Label
St. Clement Oroppas 2003 Front Label

Winemaker Notes

The 2003 Oroppas is a Cabernet Sauvignon based wine from a combination of three esteemed appellations: Rutherford, Diamond Mountain, and from within the heart of Napa Valley. To add depth and complexity, the Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with twelve percent Merlot from Carneros and four percent Cabernet Franc from Rutherford. The Merlot adds the lush red fruit component whereas the Cabernet Franc rounds out the structure and tannin of the wine. The wine was aged in eighty-four percent New French oak barrels for nineteen months.

Beautiful aromas of blackberries, cassis, currant, and dark chocolate smothered in a raspberry reduction sauce abound in this wine. The rich velvety texture and soft luscious tannins are supplemented by ripe red and black fruit flavors of strawberry and blueberry. Caramel, coffee, and vanilla flavors are supplied by the French Oak barrels that we use to age this wine. The wine has great fruit extraction of plums, wild berries, and cherry cola which coats the palate from start to finish.

Professional Ratings

    St. Clement Vineyards

    St. Clement Vineyards

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    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.

    HEI740135_2003 Item# 89158