Tech Notes
Wine Details
Robert Parker
Unit Size | 1.50Liter |
Varietal | Red Blend
|
Vintage | 2011 |
Grape | Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | United States |
Appellation | Napa Valley
|
Region | North Coast |
Alcohol Content | 14.10% |
By Palazzo Wine
2011 'Right Bank' Proprietary Red Wine
Winemaker Notes
"My 'Right Bank' Red was the wine I first wanted to make. A wine with exceptional character and beauty. Floral and intriguing on the nose, complex and rich with delicious layers of red and black fruit on the palate, balanced throughout with good acidity, minerality, and structure. In essence: a great food wine!" -Scott Palazzo
Release Date
October 1st, 2016
Vintage
Although a much-maligned vintage by critics because of severe mildew and rot that occurred at the end of the harvest that year in most of the upper valley appellations in Napa, we were lucky once again down in the Carneros appellation to dodge the damaging rot because of the much cooler temperatures that consistently prevail throughout Carneros.
Wine Description
The Palazzo 2011 'Right Bank' Proprietary Red is an exceptional wine that starts slow in the glass, with seductive, bold notes of chocolate on the nose, berries, crushed wildflowers, hints of white pepper, and spice. Arguably 'lighter' at first in mouthfeel and mid-palate weight than some of the flashier-style wines from Napa. But, as the wine opens and evolves, it begins to slowly show its magnificent, complex structure and backbone, eclipsing many of the bigger and less-structured wines from Napa. Which, don't get me wrong, are big crowd pleasers and nice wines in their own rights. But at the end of the day, the Palazzo 2011 Proprietary Red has superior structure and finesse, along with a purity of core fruit, balance, and elegance that, quite frankly, many of the more brazen and showier Napa Style wines just don't have.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Seductive bold notes of chocolate interlaced throughout. Chocolate and berries, crushed wildflowers, and hints of white pepper and spice.
Palate: Restrained at first, with a lighter mouthfeel and mid-palate weight giving way to a magnificent, tightly wound, complex structure and body, with grip and backbone. Superior structure, balance, and finesse, along with a purity of rich, black cherry and red currant.
Finish: Rich and complex, with hints of dark chocolate and black cherry fruit. Medium-long finish with stunning acidity and minerality.
Pairing: Italian food, bone-in ribeye, grilled veal chops, lamb chops, and duck breast. A great food wine!
[Information provided by Matador Vino]
2011 Palazzo Wine Proprietary Red Right Bank
USA, California, North Coast, Napa Valley
Rating: 91
Producer: Palazzo Wine
Color: Red
Type: Table
Sweetness: Dry
Variety: Proprietary Blend
Drink Date: 2015 - 2025
Issue Date: 27th Aug 2015
Source: 220, The Wine Advocate
Reviewed by Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 2011 Right Bank Proprietary Red is a blend of 68% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon. A strong effort in this much trickier vintage (which was excessively maligned, if truth be known), this 2011 certainly suffers in comparison with the subsequent 2012 and 2013. Nevertheless, the wine has good opulence and a deep, forward, precocious nose of roasted coffee, black and red currants, forest floor, cedar wood and a touch of roasted herbs. It is ripe, medium-bodied, fleshy and should be a very quick developer. In fact, it is already close to full maturity, where it should last for another 8-10 years.