Napa Valley is flanked by a series of extinct volcanic peaks starting at Mt. Veeder and running north to Mt. St. Helena, with volcanic activity still seen today in their famous hot springs and geothermal vents. Millions of years ago when the volcanoes were active, eruptions distributed minerals and ash far and wide. The valley soil today contains a large volume of volcanic lava and ash which contribute to the uniqueness of Napa Valley's wines. Lava Rock's inaugural release captures the special geological history of the Napa Valley, wild with flavors and character that come from its volcanic soils and unique growing conditions.
In 2007, the Napa Valley growing season was marked by cool weather, leading to fears that the grapes wouldn't ripen to full maturity. These fears did not play out however. Very warm weather in September and October ripened the grapes to exceptional dark color and full maturation. Harvest came much later than usual in 2007, with many growers waiting until November to pick. The large crop size came in heavy, and all at once. The harvest ended up being both large in quantity and of extremely high quality. This was a boom to the new winery. Since they have the inside scoop on vineyards across Napa, they were able to pick and chose grapes from some of the best vineyard sites across the Valley.
Though Lava Rock is into serious winemaking, they like wines that you don't have to be serious about consuming. In other words, wines that you don't have to wait forever to enjoy. With that in mind, Lava Rock Syrah/Merlot is a meticulously crafted wine that is still fun to drink. While this combination of grapes may be a bit out of the ordinary, one taste will rectify any hesitation. The Syrah accounts for the body and weight, and the Merlot adds the softening component.
Our selection jumps out of the bottle with bright aromas of black cherry, wild strawberry, ripe plum, blackberry and wild berry fruit balanced with a lively structure and finish. Just a touch of oak for a spicy addition to the fruit and a mouth-watering finish that invites a partnership with light to heavy flavored foods.
February 2010 Limited Series Newsletter (.pdf)
