95 Points - Hot 100 Wines - Bonfort's Wine & Spirits Journal
Aged 22 months in French Oak barrels. Approachable now, and has plenty of depth, structure, and complexity to lay down for another 5-8 years.
Less than a hundred cases made and we have just enough to share today.
Pairings include Bone-in pork chop, duck confit, earthy cheese, slow-roasted prime rib, chocolate truffle, even a fine cigar by the fireplace.
OAK KNOLL DISTRICT, NAPA VALLEY
Tucked along the eastern edge of Napa Valley, this vineyard lies just off Silverado Trail within the Oak Knoll District AVA, a region celebrated for its balance of structure and elegance. The site benefits from a gentle valley floor slope with subtle undulations, allowing for excellent air drainage and consistent sun exposure throughout the growing season. Soils are predominantly gravelly loam layered over clay, offering both drainage and water retention—ideal for controlled vine stress and steady ripening. Afternoon breezes funneling up valley from the San Pablo Bay naturally moderate temperatures, extending hang time and preserving acidity. Morning fog lingers just long enough to shield the fruit from early heat, while warm midday sun ensures full phenolic development. The resulting wines are defined by precision and approachability, showcasing vibrant red and black fruit, lifted aromatics, and supple tannin structure.
HARVEST NOTES
Hand Harvested | Hand Sorted
Following a wet winter, the season was mild and long, with steady, moderate temperatures that allowed for extended “hang time,” leading to optimal phenolic ripeness. Harvest started in mid-October and lasted through the first week of November.
WINEMAKING
Grapes were hand sorted, crushed and cold soaked for 2 days before fermentation for optimal flavors and texure. This is a Malbec-dominant powerhouse (77%) that defies the "oak bomb" stereotype. It's refined, terroir-driven, and incredibly balanced. Teaming up with veteran Napa Winemaker Eric Lyman (Judd’s Hill) for the past 15 years. Recent vintages have received 95 points and more.
APPELLATION: Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley
VARIETALS: 77% Malbec, 14% Petit Verdot, 9% Merlot
AGING: 22 months in French Oak barrels
pH: 3.72
ALCOHOL: 14.5%
Download Full Technical Sheet & Cellar Notes
97 Points
Aromas of blackberries, graphite, and crushed rock, along with cedar, tobacco leaf, cassis, and a medley of dry herbs and spice.
A substantial mouthfeel, full-bodied structure, firm tannins gracefully interweave, establishing a flawless equilibrium of acidity and pleasing fruit. Well-balanced acidity collaborate harmoniously to accentuate the intricate flavors of berry compote, spices, and oak nuances reminiscent of mocha.
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.
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.
94 Points
Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with vibrant notes of fresh black currants, kirsch, and mulberries... Full-bodied, the palate delivers a firm line of grainy tannins with bold freshness to frame the muscular black fruit, finishing long and cedary.
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
Light pink in color with aromas of watermelon, cranberry, orange rind, and fresh spring flowers that leap from the glass. The palate offers more peach, strawberry, and melon, with an intriguing note of rose and hibiscus. It's crisp with just the perfect hint of red fruit, and delicate whisper of strawberry that gives goosebumps.
96 Point Vintage
Entices with aromas of Bing cherry, raspberry, and cedar spice. Indicative of the cool vintage, the wine carries a freshness throughout. The palate offers a harmonious balance between bright red fruit, spice, and nicely woven tannins.
92 Points
Deep floral notes (violets), blackberry, black cherry, and cassis. Driven by the mountain's steep, cool-climate terroir, it balances rich notes of blackberry and pomegranate seamlessly intertwined with dark plum, cocoa dust, and roasted mocha, hints of roasted mocha and spice undertones add depth to its complex profile, culminating in a bold, yet elegant finish.
97 Points
Black cherry, cassis, and oak envelope your senses. Showcases a luscious, ripe essence of blackberry and black cherry, artfully complemented by subtle notes of vanilla and spice on the palate. Full-bodied in texture, and remarkably velvety. The tannins gracefully interweave, establishing a flawless equilibrium of acidity and pleasing fruit.
90 Points
Rich and voluptuous with ripe raspberry, cherry, and plum, layered with hints of lavender, fig compote, and exotic spice. Concentrated and complex, the palate is a balanced interplay cocoa, and a hint of espresso, creating both richness and intrigue. Vibrant acidity and silky tannins that contribute heft and length that coat the palate with luscious ripeness that keeps on giving.
97 Points
Rich dark fruit flavors of blackberry and cherry with notes of baking spices, licorice, coffee, and chocolate that interlace seamlessly with complexity, creating a wine that is both structured and delightfully supple, achieving an ideal balance of tension and grace. Artfully composed of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon with 17% Cabernet Franc, resulting in harmonious depth and freshness.
