2014 Italics Sixteen Appellations Red, Napa Valley

Winemaker’s Notes

“Some of the notable vineyards used for this year’s blend include: Robert Keenan, Spring Mountain; Blackbird, Oak Knoll; Annapurna, Stag’s Leap District; and Constant, Diamond Mountain. The 2014 Sixteen has the fruit, spice and earth that characterize our signature blend. It is a rich and supple wine that is fruit forward and round yet soft on the mid palate. The finish is long and complex. Each Appellation is vinified and aged separately. The components are brought together before bottling in a perfect marriage of all Sixteen Appellations. Enjoy some now, but hold on to a few bottles to see how this beauty evolves over time.”

One of the coolest projects in Napa Valley, Sixteen Appellations is a wine that I have long enjoyed but have not tasted over the last few years. That all changed on Wednesday when I sampled the 2014. It is a fantastic wine that is unique in the world of wine.

As the wines name indicates, this is a blend of grapes from each of Napa Valley’s 16 appellations. Tons of wineries focus their efforts from their estate bottling down to their single vineyard wines that showcase what a specific vineyard can do in a given year. Sixteen Appellations does the opposite, seeking to paint a picture of the vintage from the entire valley and it is a stunning masterpiece!!

One really cool aside, Italics winery was featured in the movie “Decanted: A Winemakers Journey”. It is 2016 documentary that follows the development of the winery from day 1 and you can watch it on Netflix.

Gerald Morgan Jr | Sommelier