Gold Medal
90 Points - Tastings.com
Pair grilled steaks or lamb, splash a little around to balance the spice and sauces for butter chicken and wild game.
Winemaker: Nils Venge, regarded as one of the foremost pioneers in the Napa Valley wine industry who became the first American winemaker to receive a perfect 100-point rating from Robert Parker on his 1985 Reserve Cabernet while at Groth.
Vintage: The culmination of factors from another drought year in California surprised everyone with a beautiful vintage. An unseasonably dry and mild winter, which led to an early spring, forced the vines into bud break during peak frost season. A relatively warm, but even summer, resulted in early harvest dates, with lower-than-average yields with good quality.
Harvest & Winemaking: Handpicked 3.6 tons of Merlot in the early morning on October 10, 2021 in Oakville. 49% of the fruit originated from their estate vineyard, and 51% from Fortuna Vineyard, Oakville. After the grapes were put through the crusher/de-stemmer they went to tank for a two day cold soak. The must was inoculated and fermented and pumped over 12 days at least three times daily to enhance color, flavor and tannin extraction from the skins. After two rackings, the wine was transferred to 60% new French oak barrels. For additional depth, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation in the barrel over 28 months.
Varietal: 100% Merlot
Appellation: Oakville, Napa Valley
Harvest date: October 10, 2021
Sugar: 24.6 Brix (average)
Fermentation: Malolactic conversion
Skin Contact: 2 days in stainless steel
Total acid: 6.5 g/L
pH: 3.5
Aging: 28 months
Cooperage: 60% new French oak barrels
Bottling date: April 2024
Release date: February 2025
Alcohol: 14.5% by volume
98 Points
Deep purple hue and an alluring aromatic profile of fresh blue fruits and delicate violets. On the palate, it delivers a seamless and layered texture, framed by supple, polished tannins and a refined sense of balance. Elegantly structured, it offers remarkable purity and finesse, finishing with graceful length and poise.
97 Points
Lush and fleshy, with cassis, boysenberry, and blackberry notes guided by hints of alder and mesquite. Stays open but defined through the finish, with a buried hint of sweet tobacco. A rich, layered beast, this has a nose rife with currants, blackberries, vanilla, and light toast with flavors of mocha, plum, and Bing cherry that mingle harmoniously on the tongue.
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
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