Red Blend, 2020. The Dude

We have featured every vintage of this wine since the first one in 2014. It continues to be one of the most incredible Napa wines in our portfolio. Mark Canepa and Neil Koch, each have over 28 year's experience in the wine business. Their primary concern was to make great Napa red wine at an affordable price. Though not as easy as it sounds, especially in Napa Valley, it is even more difficult when it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon based wine. The grapes and excess wine in barrels are the most expensive in California.

While nothing is spared, except profit, they age their wines typically in French oak barrels for a year or more of which 50% is new. Each year is a different blend depending on what wine they can source at the best price. This year it is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cab Franc, 12% Merlot and 9% Malbec from four different appellations in Napa including Rutherford and Howell Mountain.

As Bordeaux is the most famous French wine, Bordeaux varietals grown in Napa are the most famous American wines. While the two wines are of different styles coming from very different locations and histories, they do share an innate quality factor that is the key to the success of both.

Ours is a classic Dude offering. It says everything it should as it makes a very strong statement about its heritage, Napa Valley. The blackberry, cranberry and vanilla components are beautifully integrated to synchronize with beef bourguignon or a wild boar pappardelle with shitake mushrooms.

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