Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Bright red-ruby. Crushed berries and licorice on the nose and palate, accented by lavender and Provencal herbs. Densely packed, sweet and layered, offering a compelling savory quality and a distinctly chewy texture. For all its considerable sweetness, the very long finish remains remarkably vibrant. The serious ripe tannins give this wine the underpinning for a graceful evolution in bottle. Larry Turley recommends pairing this with lamb shoulder done with garlic and thyme.>br> 94+
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.