Monticello Vineyards

This is a deeply extracted, rich and robust wine that is bursting with black cherry and blackberry aromas, with hints of cocoa and coffee. On the palate the wine has an immediate presence, as the attack and midpalate are robust. The dark berry aromas follow through with consistency on to the palate. The tannins are big, but round and well-resolved and quickly round out what is a long, lingering finish.

This is an elegant example of the diversity of our Monticello Vineyard in Oak Knoll District. The aromas are subtle but dynamic, offering strawberry, cola, cinnamon and hints of vanilla on the nose. On the palate, the wine is very well balanced, displaying a soft, velvety texture with a vibrant beam of acidity which provides a wonderful structure for such an elegantly framed wine. This vintage is a little darker on the palate than on the nose, offering flavors of raspberry, black cherry, and cola leading into a long, smooth finish.

This wine is very well balanced highlighting the cool temperatures and crisp characteristics we get in Oak Knoll while having depth and a richness that compliments its acidity.

This wine was born after we added Cabernet Franc onto our home estate in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. This wine displays expressive aromas of dark black and blue berries, cassis, mocha and hints of sweet toasted vanilla oak and spice tones. On the palate the wine is richly textured, wonderfully balanced from front to back with dark ripe flavors, full body, and robust tannins.

This Merlot marks some of the earliest plantings of Clone 181 in all of Napa Valley. Vines planted in 1991, 1992, and 1993, these tell a story of tradition, focus on quality, and old school farming.

On the nose, this wine has dark berry fruit, hints of spice and light toasted oak, and vanilla tones. On the palate the wine is very well balanced with depth on the midpalate but also nuance and finesse on the finish. It is a celebration of the depth that can be attained with this varietal in Oak Knoll District. The attack is big, but is supported by layers of on the midpalate. The tannins are moderate, and the underlying fruit character is deep, so that this wine will evolve gracefully over time. The finish is big, and lingers with dark red berry fruit and toasted oak.