Red Wine Duckhorn Goldeneye Gowan Creek Pinot Noir 2018. No need to decant but best to open it half an hour before service. Located in the heart of the Anderson Valley, right along the migratory path of the Goldeneye duck, the Goldeneye Winery was founded in 1996, and since then, it has mainly been dedicated to the production of Pinot Noir wines, even before the Pinot Noir boom in California. Strongly focused on quality production, Goldeneye carries on the tradition of wine excellence established by Duckhorn Vineyards in Napa Valley, with its Anderson Valley Pinot Noirs. The Gowan Creek vineyard, which benefits from an ideal southwest exposure and a unique terroir, is planted with a series of Pinot Noir clone blocks carefully adapted to the site and soil type. The wine produced from these grape varieties is wonderfully aromatic, with surprising natural acidity, beautiful depth, and enticing varietal flavors. The Duckhorn Goldeneye Gowan Creek Pinot Noir is a strongly aromatic wine with aromas of red berries typical of this grape, such as blackberry, blueberry, and plum, accompanied by notes of natural herbs and toasted coffee. In the mouth, the wine is rich and juicy, with an excellent complexity of ripe fruit. The lively acidity balances the taste and makes the wine fresh and pleasant. The finish is long and silky. It is the perfect wine to be paired with duck breast and lamb chops.
2018
Red Wine Duckhorn Goldeneye Gowan Creek Pinot Noir 2018
Red Wine Duckhorn Migration Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2018. Founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976, Duckhorn estate has since been named one of the world’s top wineries seven times by Wine & Spirits magazine. Dan Duckhorn fell in love with the Merlot grape while visiting St. Emilion and Pomerol, and consequently the winery is known especially for their top quality Napa wines made from Bordeaux varietals. Today Duckhorn boasts prime vineyards located on Napa Valley’s alluvial fans as well as higher altitude plots on the slopes of Howell Mountain. In 2001 Duckhorn began making wine in the cooler climate areas like the Anderson Valley under the Migration label. Conditions here are ideal for making premium Pinot Noir wines thanks to the foggy mornings and warm sunny afternoons which help the grapes to ripen slowly. The grapes for this bottling are sourced from the best blocks of Sonoma Coast. Once in the winery the fruit is vinified in open top fermenters and then aged in French oak for 10 months. Ripe cherry, raspberry, and ripe plum burst out of the glass along with hints of dried herbs and sun-baked earth. On the palate there’s a medium body, rich red berry flavours and a bright streak of acidity. A perfect partner for roasted red meats, tomato-based pasta dishes, or a generous platter of cheeses and charcuterie.
2018
Red Wine Duckhorn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018. Decant for two hours before serving. The iconic Napa Valley winery Duckhorn Vineyards never does anything by halves and this outstanding Cabernet is no exception. Consistently rated over 90 points by the world’s top wine critics, this skillfully-made wine deftly captures both the natural beauty of the varietal and the essence of the terroir which gave it life. Duckhorn source the grapes for this wine from their own prime Napa vineyards and carefully selected partner growers in the valley. After vinification the wine spends 16 months ageing in French oak to add further complexity and to fully harmonise the intense flavours and aromas. In the glass the wine opens gently with ripe red cherry, plum and dark berry aromas which evolve over time to reveal undertones of violets, graphite and dried Mediterranean herbs. Firm tannins and refreshing acidity reveal themselves on the palate along with deep blackcurrant and blackberry flavours and hints of sweet liquorice and vanilla from the oak ageing. Thanks to the inclusion of small amounts of Merlot in the coupage, the wine is very approachable now. If you can resist the urge to open it now, the fine balance and concentrated flavours make this bottle suited for extended cellar ageing up to 2028.
2018