Elegant cool climate PN. 250-550 elevation, facing south in volcanic rock. Really beautiful site. Single varietal used in the estate grown PN. Nose of lanolin and fizzy cherry coke. Bright acidity that complements the mouthfeel of Bing cherry, cinnamon, clove and a hint of spiced plum. Flavors mend well creating a savory long finish. — 7 years ago
Extraordinary! Fresh and dried fruit -figs, apricots, dates under powdered sugar, cloves, star anise, cinnamon, pain d'epice and candied ginger -all dynamic and in motion like a mighty sprinter whose broad, soaring gate seems like his feet never really touch the ground -the Usain Bolt of Tokaji and hopefully restorative like this King of Wines and Wine of Kings is purported to be -what we read lifted kings from their deathbeds and back to their healthy and hale selves. Perhaps it is but wishful thinking but I sense I am already on the mend like a plant roused in springtime by rising temps and rising sap. — 9 years ago
Who likes tannins! Tannins are very overpowering at first but then mend themselves into a velvety coat on the tongue. Haven't had much Mondavi but this is pleasant. Lots of oak, flower box, and plums. Chalky and earthy. Think of a thick bold Pinot noir but without the spice and less mud. Opening up after an hour in my new Zwiesel Burgundy glasses.
Surprised to learn some of the grapes are from To Kalon!! Haven't had a good Oakville #napacab in a while and this is a delight for $30.
•VINEYARDS•
Fruit for our Napa Valley Cabernet includes two of the valley’s most renowned sub-appellations. Twenty-six percent is
from our historic To Kalon vineyard in Oakville located on the well-drained alluvial bench surrounding the winery. An additional 10% comes from our Wappo Hill Vineyard in the Stag’s Leap district. The varying mesoclimates and soils of these two vineyards elicit a wonderfully concentrated, expressive, and classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and are combined with fruit from a number of the area’s finest vineyards for the perfect expression of the region.
Appellation: Napa Valley
Grape Sourcing: Napa Valley (26% To Kalon Vineyard, 10% Wappo Hill Vineyard)
•WINEMAKING•
The grapes were hand harvested into small bins and carefully sorted in our gravity-flow cellar. The clusters were gently
de-stemmed directly into traditional oak tanks for cold soak, fermentation and extended maceration-a total of 22 days of wine to skin contact--maximizing the extraction of varietal character and complexity while keeping the tannins fleshy and supple. The new wine was drained and gently pressed into French oak barrels (17% new) for malolactic fermentation, assuring seamless integration of fruit and oak. The final blend was assembled through repeated tasting trials over the 17 months of barrel aging, and bottled in June of 2015. — 7 years ago
TwiLea Fletcher
Oh Tempranillo..... will California prevail over Spain and not give me knives in my stomach? Only time will tell. Now the wine....
Nuts....earth....bitter chocolate on the nose.
Chokecherry. Not very complex but I do like this wine.
‘How can you mend a broken heart....’ 🎶 — 3 years ago