Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Wine & Spirits
Jerry Seps and his daughter, Colleen Williams, select this wine to point up the floral freshness of the fruit from their east-facing vines in the Mayacamas hills. They blend in a little viognier, taking this bright, lively wine into notes of hibiscus, beeswax and the sweet herbal spice of basil. This is zinfandel that leans more toward a voluptuous pinot noir than a broad-shouldered cabernet, its depth of fruit held tight, racy and clean.
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.