To call Bill Ballentine’s wines handmade is to tell only part of the story. You see, Bill (who was winemaker for Operative-favorite, St. Clement Winery) makes the wines entirely by himself. His are the only hands that made today’s blockbuster William Cole Vineyards 2014 Smoking Gun Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

This Napa Cab has deep color density and a garnet hue all the way through to the edge. The nose coming off of this wine is just beautiful and extremely enticing with notes of straw, currants, fresh strawberry jam, boysenberry, sandalwood, and anise. Yum!! The flavor profile echoes the fresh nose with black and red cherries, chocolate coated blueberries, hibiscus, and date. This wine has it all: delicious flavors, aromas, and a flawless drinking experience. The soft and somewhat chewy tannins hug the palate and spread out like a plush blanket. You could go just about any direction with this particular Cabernet, but it would be particularly nice with a simple dish like rotisserie chicken with roast veggies.

You may recognize the Ballentine name from Bill’s family winery, Ballentine Vineyards. Bill’s family the founded winery in 1906. Since then, it has been operated by four generations of the family. Winemaking is in Bill’s blood, and the generations of family winemaking experience shine through with today’s truly superb Napa Cabernet.

We can’t wait to bring you more of Bill’s wine in the future!

.

Here’s what the wine press has to say.

91 Points - Virginie Boone - “Perfumed lavender opens the way to a softly layered, structured wine that’s medium bodied and restrained in tone. Cassis and red cherry are matched by bright, lingering acidity that provides a welcome succulence throughout.”