Mission Codename Verdot dot dot
Can’t stop. WONT STOP. The kids would say this one “slaps”. For the boomers, that means “to be excellent or amazing”. Try it with your kids at dinner, they’ll think you’re the coolest.
If you had “84% off a premier Napa Proprietary Red” on your 2020 bingo board, today is your lucky day. We just hope your body is ready to receive this insane deal because honestly, it rocked us to the core and we’re still in disbelief at this eye-popping discount.
The D’Ambrosio family has a long history of entrepreneurship and grape growing in Napa. A few weeks back we offered their Sauvignon Blanc and now we’re circling back with their top tier, big ballin’, shot calling red. This is the complete package - giant heavy bottle with a wax seal and all manner of uber rich, complex, lush fruit inside. Uncork this when it lands on your doorstep and prepare for the flood of “full-bodied richness and an expressive, opulent texture” as Jeb Dunnuck so aptly pointed out the potential here. Petit Verdot, which often serves as a sidekick, plays the starring role here and proves it can dominate the stage under the direction of winemaker Tom Foster. He totally nailed this one, which is no surprise given his deep experience at Opus One, Groth & Lewis Cellars prior.
Every aspect of this wine shows off a super flashy, expressive style - starting with the insanely deep maroon and black color and the highly perfumed nose of enticing spiced plums, Turkish coffee, cardamom and charcuterie nuances. The palate jolts the senses with big, LUSH, succulent waves of blackberry and blackcurrant, bringing in amazingly youthful freshness of fruit into the mix. It all wraps up with significant yet velvety tannins extending across a filibuster finish. We’re already prepping the wagyu burgers and portobello mushrooms to grill with this one!
With this absurd discount - the largest in our 10+ years - it’s gonna MOVE. Don’t let this one slip away!
90+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck
“The flagship is the 2012 Red Blend offers a ripe, powerful bouquet of blackcurrants, melted licorice, ground herbs, dark chocolate, and baking spice… hits the palate with full-bodied richness and an expressive, opulent texture that certainly merits attention. It gains freshness and purity with time in the glass and is an interesting expression of this variety that I’d imagine would age for another 20 years or more. Drink 2020-2040.”
What the Winery Says
2012 'EF' Napa Valley Estate Proprietary Red
- Winemaker
- Tom Foster
- Varietal
- 90% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec
- Vintage
- 2012
- Appellation
- Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley
- Vineyard
- Oak Knoll Estate Vineyard
- Clones
- 4, 338, 15, 191, 400
- Rootstock
- 5C, 101-14
- Alcohol
- 15%
- Total acidity
- 0.56 g/L
- pH
- 3.85
- Harvest date
- October 2, 10 & 12, 2012
- Aging
- 18 months
- Barrels
- 75% new French oak
- Bottling date
- August 8, 2014
- Production
- 8 barrels