Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Flirting with perfection, the 2012 Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard and 2012 Petite Syrah Pesenti Vineyard both have off-the-charts richness as well as opaque black/blue colors, enormously concentrated red, blue and black fruits intermixed with camphor and creosote notes. The Pesenti also reveals a chalky minerality that no doubt is from the limestone soils of that region. They can be drunk for their impressive scale, richness, texture and power in their youth, but they will not exhibit much secondary development for at least a decade. They will still be offering provocative and prodigious drinking 30 to 40 years from now.
Range: 96-100
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.