B Side 2014 Red Blend, Napa Valley

Don Sebastiani has a Napa Valley pedigree a mile long. But in his long career he has proven that Napa Valley wines, a. don't have to be expensive and b. don't have to be predictable. The idea of a "B side" is that it's not the smash hit that you bought the record for but sometimes it delivers just as much in a less conventional way. This is exactly what B Side Red is all about. It tells the story of the flip-side of Napa Valley. The eastern side of Napa Valley includes areas such as Pope Valley, Chiles Valley, Wooden Valley. Vines in these areas are grown in thin volcanic soils, which yield small, concentrated fruit. Combine these "off the beaten track" grapes with some from Oak Knoll, Calistoga and Yountville and you can make a killer red for a value price that really delivers. This 2014 is a blend of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 16% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec and 2% Dolcetto aged 14 months in 80% French Oak, 20% American 80% new. It already has an impressive list of accolades including Gold Medals in the International Women's Wine Competition, the San Diego Wine & Spirits Competition and the Orange County Wine Society Competition. And Wine Enthusiast Magazine scored it 90 points saying "Perfumed in dried herb and cigar, this is a supple, round, high-toned wine, made from largely Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with smaller additions of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Dolcetto. Red cherry dominates, almost like a kirsch, while the restrained oak makes it easy to enjoy now."