Winemaker Notes
Where to start with the 2016 Black Magic? This might be my single favorite wine ever for TOR in 18 years. This has so much going on it's hard to describe. There is licorice, meats and very dark black fruits on the nose. The palate is rich and complex with very full weight, tons of structure, espresso and blackberries. This is a wine that you think you have figured out and then it shows you something totally new.
Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Petite Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Lastly, the 2016 Black Magic strikes a different style and incorporates a massive 40% Petit Verdot. More inky blue/black in color, it offers a massive bouquet of chocolaty dark fruits, scorched earth, violets, graphite, and charcoal. With a pure, focused, full-bodied style, remarkable purity, a weightless texture, and no shortage of acidity or tannins, it needs 4-5 years at a minimum of cellaring and will see its 50th birthday in fine form.
Rating: 98+ -
James Suckling
A subtle and broad red with aromas of blackberries, blueberries, and black olives, following through to a full body, tight and integrated tannins and a lovely focus of subtle fruit and savory notes to finish. A lightly salty undertone here. Drink after 2022.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Proprietary Red Black Magic is made up of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Petit Verdot sourced from Vine Hill Ranch vineyard. Deep purple-black in color, it gives exuberant cassis, black plums and blackberries with Indian spices, pepper, cardamom, eucalypt and dark chocolate. Very firm and grainy, the medium to full-bodied palate is taut and muscular with mineral and earthy notes, finishing very long.
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.