Winemaker Notes
Bold, dark fruit aromas of blackberry, plum, and boysenberry are complemented by notes of clove, nutmeg, and cedar. Generous on the palate, the lively acidity and youthful tannins add depth and energy, leading to a long, concentrated finish. Winery Chef Chris Kennedy suggests pairing Dragon‘s Tooth with our Four Cheese Ravioli with Smoked Ham and Greens. The smoky flavor of the ham highlights the dark fruit notes of the wine and the greens complement its peppery notes while the complex richness of the cheese cuts nicely through the tannins on the finish.
Blend: 40% Malbec, 32% Petit Verdot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This blend of Bordeaux grape varieties starting with Malbec offers deep black- and red-cherry aromas, a good, moderately tannic texture, substantive fruit flavors and oak spices ranging from clove to cedar to cinnamon.
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.