Winemaker Notes
Blend: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Petite Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2008 Oroppas Proprietary Red is a cross-Napa Valley blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and the rest tiny dollops of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, largely from hillside vineyards on Diamond Mountain, Howell Mountain, Mt. Veeder and valley floor sites in Rutherford and St. Helena. It exhibits a deep plum/purple color along with sweet aromas of espresso roast, black cherries, black currants, licorice and herbs. Medium to full-bodied with supple tannins and a round, generous personality, it should drink well for a decade or more.
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.