2016 Kerr Cellars Reserve Proprietary Red Napa Valley

WSI96 JS96+ A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon (from Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper vineyard in Oakville), 47% Merlot (from Houyi vineyard on Pritchard Hill) and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2016 Reserve Proprietary Red was aged for 22 months in French oak, 95% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it has a wonderfully fragrant nose of violets, black cherries, warm plums and wild blueberries over a core of cassis, cedar chest and dark chocolate with hints of anise and underbrush. Full-bodied, rich and incredibly lively, it has loads of spicy sparks and a fantastically velvety texture, finishing long with savory and earthy notions coming through. Around 600 cases were made.