2016 Napa Valley Red Wine - Bydand Wines

Spiced blackberry, red bell pepper, chocolate dipped strawberry. Damson plum, cigar smoke, juicy black currant. Dark cherry compote, blueberry, and soft black licorice intricately converge with green tobacco, elderflower, and bitter cocoa in a gorgeously expressive and dynamic attack. Alluring herbaceousness quickly heightens thanks to the emergence of anise, paprika, dill, and tarragon while blooming rose and jasmine simultaneously impart a jolt of pleasantly pungent floral aromatics. A subtly decadent layer of baking spice highlighted by clove and cardamom washes in to provide a touch of elegant opulence as muddled mint, potting soil, and Columbian coffee reveal enthralling organic flair. Underneath the structured and surprisingly savory display hints of iron, volcanic rock, and wet cellar expose captivating earthy nuance to further increase already incredible complexity. Extraordinarily well integrated and balanced on the palate; featuring great depth, verve, and dimension expressed with enviable restraint. Medium plus in body filled out by soft yet elevated tannin and exceptionally bright acidity. This 2016 Napa Valley Red Wine by Bydand Wines is a serious, seductive, and fascinating Bordeaux-style blend.

Although varietal bottling has largely become the norm in new world winegrowing regions, many of the best wineries of Bordeaux shape their top wines using a thoughtfully constructed and seamless blend of different local grape varieties. This bottling, crafted by Bydand Wines using a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon/40% Cabernet Franc sourced from 2 small valley floor vineyards in Napa Valley, shows that even in California a well-crafted Bordeaux blend can achieve more than the sum of its parts. While this wine contains no shortage of soft, silky, and rich Napa Cab fruit it also pulses with an energetic medley of Cab Franc's textbook herbal qualities. It is aromatic and expressive while remaining wonderfully restrained; managing to prioritize balance over brawn without sacrificing depth or complexity. A truly outstanding creation.