Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Noticeably floral with blueberries and blackberries is the 2014 Petite Syrah Library Vineyard, from a site adjacent to the Hayne Vineyard on the back streets of St. Helena. Again, this has civilized tannins that are silky and well-integrated, followed by a wine with an enormous wealth of fruit, lavish concentration, and extravagant texture and richness. It is always hard to peg when these will hit full maturity, but this one has a good 5-10 years of development and should keep for three decades as well. Rating: 95+
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Wine Spectator
Violet and simmering warm blackberry aromas lead to rich and concentrated, yet graceful, flavors of wild berry, white pepper and licorice. Drink now through 2026.
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.