Winemaker Notes
"This is my favorite wine to make because, like having all the crayons in the box, it lets me paint the prettiest picture. Having an incredible arsenal of vineyards at my disposal enables me to make a wine with layers and layers of aromas and flavors. Cabernet is the backbone, Merlot contributes to the mid-palate and the aromatics, Petit Verdot adds color and floral aromatics, and Cabernet Franc elongates the finish." —Mario Monticelli.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Tough and gritty in tannins, with a mouthfeel like you’re chewing on sandpaper. Yet this Bordeaux blend is very rich in fruit, with a solid core of blackberries, black currants, anise and violets, sweetened with toast oak. Decant this classy Bordeaux Blend for a few hours before serving.
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Wine Spectator
Firm, ripe, intense and concentrated, full-bodied and structured, with a complex mix of dark berry fruit, red and black licorice, cedar and spice, ending with a pleasant loamy earthiness. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2017.
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.