The Vault
The vault is full bodied and bursting with ripe, concentrated wild berries and black currants on the front end. The structured mid-palate layers flavors of sweet oak, wild strawberries, black pepper and spices, finishing off the back end with vanilla, caramel and buttery tannins that make the vault as well-balanced as it is complex. 90 points ~ Wine Enthusiast magazine – Feb,...
Read MoreMandala Arizona Stronghold Vineyards
When people think of Arizona, they don’t typically think of wine. Desert, yes. Searing heat, yes. Wine, no. Arizona Stronghold Vineyards is changing that. Profiled in the documentary “Blood Into Wine” and lavished with stunned praise by the likes of prominent figures at Wine Spectator and The Wall Street Journal, ASV has spent the better part of five years showing the world that a great Arizona wine can be a great wine by any standard. On the nose, voluptuous aromas of dark cherry, blackberry and spice...
Read MoreBV “Tapestry” Reserve Napa Valley 2006
“The 2006 Proprietary Red Wine Tapestry Reserve (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot) is the finest example of this cuvee I have ever tasted. Flowery, licorice-infused, cassis notes intermixed with forest floor and lead pencil shavings are followed by a layered, impressively built wine with real opulence, lots of red and black fruits, low acidity, and lush tannin. It should drink well for 15+ years.” 93 points ~ Robert...
Read MoreArizona Stronghold Nachise 2009
The bulk of the grapes that went into this wine came from the middle aged and “Norte” blocks of Arizona Stronghold Vineyard. The middle aged block is planted to an unknown syrah clone that was acquired by Al Buhl of Dos Cabazas in the early 1990’s. At picking, this fruit had very rustic flavors with good acidity and a lot of earth, spice, dark fruit and leafy characters. The syrah from the Norte block is a clone from Australia known as Shiraz-1. It showed more tannin on the palate with brighter, fresher...
Read MoreOrin Swift Papillon 2008
The 2008 marks the fourth vintage of our Cabernet Sauvignon blend Papillon. We source grapes from Howell Mountain, Saint Helena, Rutherford, and Oakville to gain better complexity and structure. Many of the same vineyards that created this wine in previous vintages are here again; Taplin, Lewelling, Moorhead, Ink Grade, Morisoli, and Sommerston to name a few. As always the label is an image of 3rd generation Napa Valley grape grower Vince Tofanellii’s hands taken by our friend and world famous photographer,...
Read MoreThe Prisoner – SOLD OUT
This vintage has a deep ruby hue that is nearly opaque. The aromas elevate from the glass starting with black currant, dark blackberry, cherry, and cassis rounded out by subtle hints of seasoned French and American oak. The entry of the wine is massive and leads into a lush middle framed by bright acid and supple tannins. The finish is long, lingering and filled with soft velvety tannins lasting for nearly thirty seconds. 51% Zinfandel, 19% Cabernet Sav., 18% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 3% Charbono, 1%...
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