Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Like the tannic 2005, the winery's '06 needs time in the cellar. It's a bit hard and closed. But it’s simply humongous in flavor, offering a deep well of blackberry and mulberry flavors and various wild berries with no names. You'll also detect dark chocolate, anise, Asian spices and beef jerky.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2006 Pinot Noir Coastlands Vineyard, which comes from both the new Dijon and California heritage clones, is very impressive. Deep ruby/purple, with notes of black cherries and blackberries, some subtle camphor and crushed rock, medium to full body, and beautiful, fresh acidity and moderate tannins in the finish...
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.