A second warm spring in a row meant things got off to early, but didn’t finish as early as last year. The summer provided a near-perfect growing arc until a significant—but temporary—heat spike late in the season made things interesting, before October eased off the heat-pedal just a bit to ensure a flawless landing. The result is almost an embarrassment of riches: a fifth-straight vintage of noble quality, with this probably the best of those five. Combining the ripeness of 2015 with the structure of 2013 and the layered fruit of 2014, this year gives us goosebumps. The critical acclaim you’ve heard about the vintage in Napa is warranted. We are quite happy with our bottling and hope you will be too.

The Master’s Blend was the natural progression of finding the best expression from within our Napa program. Peter asked our winemaker-GM Martin, who was on the cusp of his Master of Wine achievement, to craft the best possible wine in the form of a new prestige-level Napa cuvee. Thus, the Master’s Blend was born; an iterative, months-long selection process to find a combination of variety, sub-appellation, and cooperage that could compete with the big boys of the revered Napa Valley. Crafted in the spirit of the Bordeaux blending tradition, the Master’s Blend is a proprietary selection (four barrels made in total) achieving a unique expression of the power, balance, and grace. This combines all five traditional Bordeaux varieties and includes fruit from Rutherford, St. Helena, Oak Knoll District, Yountville, and Pritchard Hill.

With the effortless quality of 2016 already in our back pocket, the Master’s Blend seized the boldness of our Napa Cabernet and teased out additional complexity and expressiveness by blending the edgy allure of Cab Franc, the plumy sexiness of Merlot, the sinewy tension of Malbec, and the spiciness of Petit Verdot. Aromas show blackberry compote, crème de cassis, mocha, allspice, and sweet tobacco. The presence of the palate echoes the density and power of our Napa Cabernet; however the concentrated tannins are more handsomely integrated with the intense, broad-shouldered profile of this blend’s flavors. A deeply rewarding wine that captures Peter Paul’s core philosophy of balanced winemaking while paying homage to the artistry of Bordeaux’s blending tradition. Cellarworthy for 10-15 years.