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
93 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Polished and elegantly layered Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah offers red plum and black cherry, with hints of cigar box, forest floor, bay, baking spices, light pepper and vanilla on the nose. Expressive black raspberry, sassafras and smoky pepper flavors that linger with salted dark chocolate, red plum, cherry with notes of pepper on the palate.
94 Points, Wine Enthusiast
This big juicy wine opens up with aromas of dark berry, black plum, dried violet and maple that leap from a glass, layered with dried herbs, tar, and smoke that follow. Blackberry and blueberry compote rule the palate, while leather, grilled herbs, dark chocolate and scorched earth lead to a long, satisfying finish. Delicious!
93 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Dark fruit aromas of black raspberry, blackberry and black cherry steer the aromatics backed by baking spices, anise and lavender. A touch of Syrah to add tannin and depth. On the palate, black cherry and blackberry preserve shine through rounded out by herbs de Provence, dark chocolate and vanilla. A gorgeous expressive wine!
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