The Knights Valley Red Blend is ruby in the glass and transparent throughout. On the nose, pure red fruit aromas; red currant, cranberry, pomegranate, and rose hips. On the palate, floral rose notes cascade into complex red fruit flavors. Cranberry and red currant dominate, but secondary flavors of baking spice, clove, and cardamom help to create an experience not unlike that of a berry cobbler. Strong acidity helps to support the fruit flavors while silky tannin lends a solid structure for the delicate notes to sit upon. The finish is long and delightful, all in all a mid-palate delight. For us, letting the wine decant for an hour lent huge rewards as the fruit flavors unwound a bit and the wine gained an even more pronounced perfume. Ready to drink now, but will develop over the next 4-5 years.
Varietal | Red Wine |
---|---|
Vintage | 2019 |
Volume | 750mL |
Appellation | 3 Acre |
Alcohol % | 14.9% |
Enclosure Type | Cork |
Vineyard lots are carefully segregated to allow each lot to be evaluated for inclusion in these limited release wines. Fruit is fermented in small stainless tanks, undergoing 100% secondary malolactic fermentation prior to extended aging for 16 months in a mixture of French and American oak, including new French Oak.
In 2016, Ryan returned to Napa Valley to join Beringer Vineyards as Luxury Red Winemaker and crafted wines from the Knight’s Valley estate. He was appointed Sr. Winemaker and General Manager in 2017 and elevated to Chief Winemaker in 2021. Ryan is honored to bring recognition to the wines produced at one of Napa Valley’s best known and most beloved wineries, following in the footsteps of a roster of acclaimed chief winemakers such as Ed Sbragia, Myron Nightingale, Laurie Hook, and Mark Beringer.
The 2019 harvest started one to two weeks later than previous years, mostly due to February rains, but because the vines were in their winter dormancy, it did not affect the 2019 crop. Spring continued to be wet with some rain during flowering, followed by cool temperatures that allowed the grapes to mature gradually. Most grapes ripened at lower sugars, thanks to the extended, cool growing season, and winemakers were pleased with the full flavors, fresh acidity and superb balance of the 2019 fruit. Wildfires in October did not impact this year’s harvest as the vast majority of the grapes were already brought in, resulting in a crop size pretty much on par with previous years.
To create a better experience for you across all of our brands, we’ll check this info with accounts across the Treasury Wine Estates Portfolio of brands: Beringer, Beaulieu Vineyard, Etude, Hewitt Vineyard, Stags' Leap Winery, Sterling, Penfolds, and The Wine Shop.
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