Yao Ming 2014 Napa Crest Red, Napa Valley

NBA star Yao Ming is a huge celebrity in his homeland China. With the tremendous surge in wine drinking in China it was only natural that his next career should be that of a vintner and so Yao Family wines of Napa Valley was started. And what a start! Yao's wines since his first release have received high scores and rave reviews and this wine is his red bordeaux style blend from the "dream" 2014 vintage and it's a wine with MVP quality.

A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 12% Petit Verdot sourced from vineyards throughout Napa Valley including mountain vineyards, up valley warmer climate vineyards as well as their ranches in Oakville and St. Helena.

All of the fruit is hand sorted and fully destemmed into small stainless steel tanks with no crushing. Cold soak lasts 5 to 7 days followed by warm fermentation up to 90F with native yeast. Maceration lasted 19 to 34 days and the wine aged in 100% French oak barrels 50% new for 16 months.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine scored this 92 points and said "This is a Cabernet Sauvignon-driven blend, with 25% Merlot and 12% Petit Verdot. Generously oaky and ripe, it offers textured layers of graphite, cigar and cedar. An exciting sideshow of spicy Mexican chocolate accents deeper, darker shocks of black cherry.