The 2016 High Dive Napa Valley Red Blend represents a high-level collaboration between two of the region's most respected winemaking talents, Peter Heitz and Scott Palazzo. Peter Heitz, a fourth-generation vintner who spent over a decade at Beringer under the legendary Ed Sbragia, has been the head winemaker at Turnbull Wine Cellars since 2007 where he has earned multiple 100-point scores. Scott Palazzo, often described as a "rock-and-roll" winemaker, remains deeply involved with his own eponymous label, Palazzo Wine, which earned a cult following for its Right Bank Bordeaux-style reds that have become a staple at The French Laundry. We have long been massive fans of both Turnbull and Palazzo Wine here at Taylor’s Wine Shop, and it has been a privilege to host both Peter and Scott at the store for memorable tasting events over the years. This bottling brings their individual strengths together, combining Peter’s mastery of structured Oakville fruit with Scott’s affinity for the elegance and plush textures of the Right Bank style.
The 2016 vintage in Napa Valley is widely regarded by critics as near-perfect, defined by a steady growing season that allowed for exceptional purity and a graceful balance of power and acidity. Now approaching ten years of age, this blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 12% Cabernet Franc is entering its prime drinking window, where the primary fruit has softened into a sophisticated profile of muddled huckleberries, sun-ripened blackberries, and pomegranate reduction. On the palate, the wine reveals complex secondary notes of damp earth, lead pencil shavings, and crushed tobacco, all supported by the silky, refined tannins that have become the hallmark of this heralded vintage. It is showing beautifully right now, offering a rich mouthfeel and a lingering, expansive finish that perfectly captures the character of a mature Napa Valley red.
Critical Acclaim
92pts Jeb Dunnuck
Compared to the 2015, the 2016 Red Blend offers more freshness and purity, with classy notes of cassis, damp earth, tobacco, and lead pencil shavings. Nicely concentrated, medium to full-bodied, with both acidity and tannins, it's going to develop more complexity with 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for 15+ years.
91pts Wine Advocate
The 2016 Red Blend is made up of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot, 1% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it is broody and a little reduced to begin, opening out to reveal a core of blackberries, black cherries and warm cassis plus hints of underbrush, charcuterie, olives and yeast extract. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy textured with lovely freshness and a good core of pure fruit, culminating in an earthy finish.
750ml
