Search results for: 'mostly red'

Founded directly above the San Andreas Fault, DeRose Vineyards is located in one of the most active earthquake areasin the World. Furthermore, it is one of only a few wineries anywhere to have a major fissure dissecting its wine cellars. DeRose has vineyards on both sides of the infamous fault. Soils east of the break contain fragmented granite and crumbled sandstone while those on the west side are mostly granite and limestone. Some blocks lie precisely above the line, their tilled surfaces concealing the fissure far below. Cabernet Franc grows east of the fault in loosely packed loam where the drainage is excellent.

A temperamental grape variety in many locations, Cabernet Franc thrives on the DeRose estate, creating heavily extracted wines with wonderful viscosity. Winemaker Pat DeRose prunes each vine in the winter and later exposes the grapes to beneficial sunlight with careful leaf removal. Clusters are thinned after veraison to attain proper vine balance.

100 Points! A full-bodied, structured red with blackcurrant, violet, dark-chocolate and burnt-orange aromas. Walnut husk, too. Such precision and elegance. Firm, smooth tannins and a long finish. Really complex at the end. A stunning wine from Stags Leap District. Drink from 2023. - JamesSuckling.com

98+ Points! From the estate property around the new winery in Stags Leap, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Moonracer (there are normally small amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc in the blend) offers a glorious Napa Cabernet nose of crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, dried flowers, and chocolate that develops beautifully with time in the glass. It doesn't lose a beat on the palate either and is full-bodied, with a layered, focused texture, building structure, and a great, great finish. It's a serious, age-worthy wine that needs 4-5 years of bottle age yet will evolve like a First Growth from Bordeaux. - Jeb Dunnuck

92 Points! A good value, the 2023 Keola Red offers juicy darker fruits, peppery herbs, and sappy, floral notes. Based on 45% Petite Sirah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 25% Syrah aged 18 months in 25% new French oak, it's medium to full-bodied, ripe, round, and supple, with no hard edges. This is a pleasure-bent, impeccably made red to drink over the coming 5-6 years. ..As always, Aaron Jackson makes a ripe, powerful style of wine that brings ample fruit and texture while staying nicely balanced. - Jeb Dunnuck

Sourcing:

Petite Sirah - Dusi Vineyards (Templeton Gap District), St Peter of Alcantara (Willow Creek District next door to Pesenti Vineyard)
Syrah - Maison Mason (Willow Creek District next to notable vineyards like Terry Hoage, Paderewski). And Caelesta Vineyard (Templeton Gap)
Cabernet - Old Bailey Vineyard (Adelaida District, oldest vine Cab on the westside, own rooted in 1969 and right next door to HMR Vineyard and planted around the same time).

93 Points! The 2021 Trespasser is more focused and inward, with darker fruits, graphite, candied violets, and chocolaty, subtle leafy herb-like nuances. It's a rich, full-bodied, concentrated red based on 38% Petite Sirah, 37% Syrah, and 25% Mourvèdre that spent 22 months in 50% new 300- and 400-liter puncheons. It will shine for 5-7 years, if not a decade. - Jeb Dunnuck

99 Points! A gorgeous wine, yet one that's going to demand bottle age, the 2019 La Mondotte comes from a tiny vineyard located just beside Pavie Decesse and is always a blend of mostly Merlot with roughly 15-30% Cabernet Franc, brought up in new French oak. Mulled blackcurrants, darker cherries, tobacco leaf, chocolate, lead pencil, and burning ember-like nuances all emerge from this brilliant wine, and it's full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful, with good acidity, building tannins, and a great, great finish. It holds onto the more classic, focused style of the vintage, yet it's a beast of a wine that brings the goods. Hide bottles for a solid 7-8 years or more, count yourself lucky, and it's going to have 30-40 years of longevity. - Jeb Dunnuck

97 Points! This has a fragrant nose of blackberries, red tea, cloves, bark, orange zest and dark chocolate. Sandalwood and tile, too. Full-bodied with chewy yet supple tannins and fresh acidity. Seamless and rich. Long and muscular. Try from 2027. - James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

58% Cabernet Sauvingon, 42% Tempranillo. Still unique in Napa, after 10 years – the PARADOR Napa Valley Red Wine is inspired by the great blended wines made at Vega Sicilia in the Ribera del Duero. Utilizing great Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the dramatic Hossfeld Vineyard located in Soda Canyon, and blending with the Tempranillo to make a sumptuous, velvety wine with great aging potential. After blending in the spring following harvest, the wine is aged 2 ½ years in a combination of 30% new and the balance, used French oak barriques and puncheon barrels. 

Cabernet Sauvignon from Hossfeld Vineyard – Steep, terraced planting on eastern Napa Valley hillside bowl in Soda Canyon. – Farmed by hand for the highest quality by owner, Henry Hossfeld. Typically deep-colored, with faint mountain-thistle and dark berry character.

Tempranillo from Rancho Chimiles Vineyard – This virgin vineyard site was cleared and planted for the Parador project by Terry Wilson, landowner and grower, from cuttings and plants originating from the Ribera del Duero. – The vineyard is planted at an elevation of 1000 feet and on a slope filled with sandstone rock.

91 Points! The smart buy in the Ackerman lineup is the suave, polished 2018 Memoir Red Wine. A blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% each Cabernet Franc and Merlot, and 6% each Malbec and Petit Verdot, it seamlessly marries cedary oak notes with cassis and dark chocolate flavors. Medium to full-bodied and less opulent and weighty than many of its Napa counterparts, it's still velvety-plush but also marked by ample freshness and length. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

The 2008 Proprietary Red reflects a slightly cooler, more measured growing season, resulting in a wine that emphasizes balance and aromatic detail. As Scott Palazzo continued refining his Bordeaux-inspired approach, this vintage shows increasing elegance and structure. These magnums were produced in extremely limited quantities and reserved solely for private members, making this first public release a rare chance to acquire a beautifully evolved library wine.

Tasting Note:
Aromas of dried red cherry, currant, and violet are layered with hints of cedar and gentle spice. The palate is supple and refined, offering savory red fruit, polished tannins, and lively acidity. Earthy undertones and subtle oak influence add depth. The finish is smooth and persistent, with freshness and precision preserved by the magnum format.

99 Points! Composed of mostly Semillon, along with 31% Sauvignon Blanc and a small but fragrant addition of 1% Muscadelle, the 2021 La Proportion Doree comes from 30-year-old, dry-farmed vines and was barrel fermented. It pours a bright yellow color and takes on another gear in the glass, cascading open with generous aromas of fresh currants, candle wax, jasmine, and a lift of white pepper spice. Medium to full-bodied, its structure offers fantastic definition, and it has a concentrated, rich texture, an even spine of acidity, and exceptional length. This is a stunning textural blend to enjoy over the coming 10-12 years. - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

99 Points! Perfectly ripe black and blue berries on the nose with blackcurrants, too. Crushed fruit. Complex and perfect. Full and intense. You feel the intensity of the tannins, yet it is not overpowering. They are in a sophisticated and elegant state. Muscular and formed finish. Gorgeous in every sense of the word. Strength with finesse. Drink after 2030. - James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

99 Points!  Just about pure perfection, the 2020 La Mondotte comes from a tiny parcel of limestone soils on the upper plateau, not far from Troplong Mondot. Mostly Merlot with a small amount of Cabernet Franc, its deep purple hue is followed by a brilliant bouquet of crème de cassis, crushed stone, graphite, mulled black cherries, and hints of truffle. Full-bodied, incredibly elegant yet also concentrated and flawlessly balanced, it's as good as anything in the vintage. Give bottles 4-6 years in the cellar, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 2-3 decades. - Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

96 Points! More iron, ground pepper, charred meats, and tapenade notes emerge from the 2018 Syrah Block B, a rich, powerful, yet focused and elegant Syrah that does everything right. Offering plenty of chalky minerality, ripe, building tannins, and a great finish, this brilliant Syrah will keep for at least a decade. The wine is 100% Syrah that was mostly destemmed (28% whole clusters) and spent 19 months in 82% new French oak. - Jeb Dunnuck

96 Points! Deep, shimmering purple. Potent, primary aromas of ripe dark berries, incense, violet, mocha and exotic spices take on a floral element as the wine opens up. Taut and chewy in the mouth, offering densely packed blackberry, cherry cola, allspice, vanilla and floral pastille flavors that show fine definition and mineral lift. The floral and spice notes repeat emphatically on a wonderfully long, penetrating finish shaped by steadily building tannins. Aged in French oak barrels and puncheons, 82% of them new. - Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media

99 Points! The 2021 EE Red Wine is ripe and powerful, with smoky red and black fruits as well as lots of background oak, graphite, espresso, and dark chocolate-like aromas and flavors that develop beautifully with time in the glass. Deep, rich, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, it has plenty of background oak, the building tannins of the vintage, and a great finish. A gorgeous wine, it will benefit from 3-4 years in the cellar and evolve for 25-30 years in cold cellars. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Cabernet Franc brought up in new barrels. - Jeb Dunnuck

42% petit verdot, 26% cabernet sauvignon ,14% sangiovese, 8% petite sirah, 6% tempranillo, 4% touriga all from Paso Rbles exceot the Sangio. hand-harvested, native yeast fermented, aged 20 months in neutral barriques, bottles unfined and unfiltered.

93 Points! Rich and velvety, bursting with blueberry, plum, cherry and exotic spice aromas and flavors, filling the mouth with flavor and refined tannins. A seductive wine with real backbone to carry it through. Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. - Wine Spectator

The 2004 Proprietary Red represents a natural evolution of Scott Palazzo’s early winemaking vision, building on the foundation laid by the inaugural 2003 vintage. Crafted during the formative years of the estate, this wine reflects Palazzo’s deep admiration for Bordeaux-inspired blends that prioritize balance, structure, and longevity. Produced in very limited quantities, the magnum format was set aside exclusively for Palazzo’s private members and carefully cellared for two decades. This release marks the first time these mature library magnums have been made available to the public, offering collectors a rare opportunity to experience an early Palazzo blend at full maturity in its most age-worthy format.

Tasting Note:
Now beautifully resolved, the 2004 opens with layered aromas of dried red cherry, plum, and fig, accented by notes of cedar, tobacco leaf, and warm baking spice. On the palate, the wine is supple and integrated, with softened tannins supporting savory red and dark fruit flavors. Subtle notes of leather, cocoa, and earthy complexity emerge as the wine unfolds, adding depth without heaviness. The finish is long, smooth, and harmonious, with the magnum format preserving freshness and cohesion, underscoring the wine’s graceful evolution over time.

The 2005 Proprietary Red reflects a pivotal moment in the early evolution of Palazzo Wine, showing growing confidence and refinement in Scott Palazzo’s blending philosophy. Built on his admiration for Bordeaux-inspired red blends, this wine emphasizes balance, structure, and age-worthiness while beginning to show greater precision and polish than earlier vintages. Produced in very limited quantities, the magnum format was reserved exclusively for Palazzo’s private members and carefully cellared from release. This marks the first time these mature library magnums have been made available to the public, offering collectors a rare opportunity to experience a foundational Palazzo wine with two decades of graceful evolution.

Tasting Note:
The wine opens with expressive aromatics of dried cherry, blackberry, and plum layered with notes of cedar, tobacco, and gentle spice. On the palate, it is smooth and fully integrated, delivering savory red and dark fruit supported by softened tannins and balanced acidity. Hints of cocoa, leather, and earthy complexity add depth as the wine unfolds. The finish is long, polished, and harmonious, with the magnum format preserving freshness and cohesion while highlighting the wine’s maturity and elegance.

The 2006 Proprietary Red marks a turning point in Scott Palazzo’s early Napa Valley journey, as his blending philosophy continued to sharpen and take on greater definition. Building on his Bordeaux-inspired approach, this vintage shows increased clarity of structure and balance, with a stronger sense of cohesion across the blend. Produced in extremely limited quantities, the magnum format was held exclusively for Palazzo’s private members and carefully cellared from release. This offering represents the first time these library magnums have been made available to the public, providing collectors a rare opportunity to experience a maturing Palazzo blend in its most age-worthy and expressive format.

Tasting Note:
With nearly two decades of bottle age, the wine opens with layered aromas of dried red cherry, plum, and blackcurrant, accented by cedar, tobacco leaf, and warm spice. On the palate, it is supple and composed, showing savory red and dark fruit supported by softened yet structured tannins and balanced acidity. Notes of cocoa, leather, and subtle earth emerge as the wine unfolds, adding depth and dimension. The finish is long, smooth, and refined, with the magnum format preserving freshness and harmony while highlighting the wine’s elegant evolution.

The 2011 Proprietary Red was shaped by a notably cool Napa Valley growing season, producing wines defined by freshness, structure, and restraint. This vintage aligns closely with Scott Palazzo’s long-standing admiration for classical Bordeaux blends, emphasizing balance and age-worthiness over power. Bottled in very limited quantities, the magnum format was held exclusively for private members until this first public release.

Tasting Note:
The wine opens with savory aromatics of dried herbs, red currant, and subtle floral notes, layered with cedar and earthy nuance. On the palate, it is focused and linear, offering tart cherry, cranberry, and gentle spice framed by bright acidity and fine-grained tannins. The finish is clean and persistent, with a refined, elegant profile that has been beautifully preserved in magnum.