Stonegate Diamond Mountain Reserve Red 1999
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The Diamond Mountain Reserve exhibits a deep brick red color. The nose has earth tones of mushroom, cassis and black cherry. The flavors are a fruit forward plum with hints of mushroom and earth. On the finish, there are firm tannins with flavors of jammy plum and cedar. The wine leaves the palate with soft oak tannins rounding out the flavors. This explosive wine can be enjoyed now but will certainly improve in the cellar for ten years or more.
Appellation: Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley Varietal: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot
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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.