2021 Napa Valley Lion Tamer Red Blend

FROM THE CELLAR

“We lead with Malbec in the blend to develop a softness in the tannins, making this a smooth and seamless wine. These mouthwatering tannins surround the palate, framing complex elements of black cherry, blueberry, and boysenberry with subtle notes of milk chocolate. In crafting this wine, our goal is to achieve perfect balance, with the layered fruit notes concentrated in the mid-palate and enveloped by well-integrated elements of baking spice and oak on the lengthy, elegant finish.”

– Stephanie Pope, Winemaker

TECHNOLOGY AND WINEMAKING

Our Lions Head Cellar houses some of the most progressive winemaking technology allowing our winemakers to craft wines of exceptional quality that showcase the distinctive lands they come from. The winemakers leverage tools like our optical sorter, which ensures only the highest quality berries are delivered to the fermentation tanks; and cutting-edge tanks, which facilitate 24/7 monitoring of pumpovers and micro-adjustments to be made throughout the winemaking process.

RESILIENCE IN THE VINEYARD

Vintage 2021 began with a warm spring and little rain. By the time midsummer was approaching it was clear that we were experiencing severe drought conditions, leading to fewer grape clusters on the vine. This resulted in lower yields with small berries that were packed with intense, lush flavor. Early ripening, sunny summer heat, and a lack of water were balanced out by a very welcomed cool fall season. The more temperate fall weather created the perfect conditions for our fruit to continue ripening steadily and allowed us to harvest at the optimal moment. Vintage 2021 will continue to be celebrated for its dense fruit, bold structure, and unforgettable complexity.