A blend of just 50% cabernet sauvignon with 32% cabernet franc and 18% merlot "with all of the fruit coming from the Napa Valley." The predominant scent was succulent road tar with cab-franc-graphite spice underneath. On the palate, the wine suggests olive tapenade, bay leaf, and wild blueberry jam. A touch spicy and a little racy, this (nearly) decade old wine has the texture of warm blood: Plump enough to serve alone; enough acidity to serve with dinner.
This 1999 harkens back to an age of simplicity in style - and marketing - that I long for from Napa Valley. In the meantime, I have found the quality of Girard Winery inconsistent from year to year and from varietal to varietal. In my opinion, the wines haven't shown a typicity or "house style" and their premium wine has changed names so many times since 1999 I don't know what to call it anymore. It has been called "Red Wine," and "Artistry" and most recently "Pritchard Hill". The truth is, however, that neither I nor anyone I know really cares if it came from Pritchard Hill or not. What matters is that the constant renaming of the brand has me wondering if they know what they want to accomplish with their wines. All the hoopla and fancy names, vineyard designations and what not doesn't add to the quality of the wine. Actually, it does the opposite.
The simplicity of this 1999 Red Wine, though ... it's hard to resist.
Sean, I am glad to hear that you like our 1999 Napa Valley Red. It was a wine that scored over 90 points with all the major publications.
ReplyDeleteI also want to clear up a couple of things for you. We added the name "Artistry" to our Napa Red Blend in 2003 and have been making Artistry since then. Some people found the Napa Red to be to generic. We are still selling it as Artistry.
The Pritchard Hill is a small volume Cabernet Sauvignon we do and is completely separate from Artistry. In fact the 2005 vintage just got 93 points from Robert Parker, 93 points from Wine Spectator and 94 points from Wine Enthusiast.
We also make a Diamond Mountain Cabernet that scored in the low- mid 90's with all three publications.
If you get to Napa I would be happy to arrange a vertical tasting of our Artistry blend from the 1999 vintage through the 2006. I think you will find a very consistent house style with it. Mty winemaker, Marco DiGuilio, has been making the wine since the 1999 vintage.
Best Regards,
Pat Roney
Vintner
Girard Winery
Thanks Pat. I appreciate your comments and I hope to take you up on that offer next time I come to Napa.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I will be retasting and posting about your 2002 Cabernet Franc sometime after the holidays.
Yours truly -