A cornucopia of aromas present themselves at first scent, including dark maraschino cherry, cigar box and the signature Cabernet note of cassis. Entrance on the palate is velvety and affable, with sumptuous tannins alongside hints of cocoa powder and cedar.
The first inhale is evocative of new dew on a forest floor. The perfume also highlights a hint of vanilla and a flurry of pomme fruit. This Chardonnay is lush and inviting – a true crowd pleaser. The corners are round and the wine is flavorful with notes of meringue, lemon zest, custard and the billowing smell of toasted brioche fresh out of the bakery’s oven.
This frisky blend of Barbera, Zinfandel, and Valdiguie is tart and fruit-forward. A jazzy array of black cherry, purple plum, and sweet violets possess the palate. Hits high on the “yum” factor.
Dense and rich, with broad strokes of cedar-filled chocolate and black cherry liqueur. Coffee notes stretch way across the palate, with a grip that let’s go to reveal a sturdy structure.
Opaque hued, with a coating of licorice and cigar wrapping. Grainy mouthfeel, the tannins soon smooth out, becoming rounder, and usurping the palate with a decisive richness. Blackberry jam and graphite intensify on mid-point, and the finish becomes a long, enjoyable journey.
Fruit from organically farmed, family-owned vineyards across Napa Valley is the foundation for this elegant red. With a surge of iron minerality, notes of tart red cherry, Rooibos tea, and toasted cedar, Lyndenhurst comes off as an earth mother, generous in its breadth and depth of flavor. Its St. Estephe – style – besides being Cabernet Sauvignon based – uses the other four Bordeaux grapes, aged 20 months in mostly French oak. The tannins are present and demonstrate the wine’s youthful stance, but its structure and character is undeniable.
With some weight on the palate, this exciting white is accented with elderflower, jasmine, and gardenia. Tangerine takes a straight path forward, with a rich crescendo finish of peach pie.
Aged 18 months in 225 and 160-liter French barrels on its lees with monthly bâttonage and another two years in bottle. From its old-world acidity to its earthy, chalky tannins, this red merits attention through its modest beauty. Mediterranean herbs, cherry skins, and a streaming of violets and iron continue to flow, layer upon layer. Milk chocolate and sweet oak on the finish are seamless. Fruit gets opaque as it opens, and we found it has a Cahors-like style.