Robert Foley Red Blend Napa Valley the Griffin 2008

Even more powerful than our first Griffin from the ‘07 vintage, the ’08 is a blend of 42% blockbuster Petite Sirah, 40% super-ripe Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% black and soft Charbono, and 8% ripe and roun

Even more powerful than our first Griffin from the 07 vintage, the 08 is a blend of 42% blockbuster Petite Sirah, 40% super-ripe Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% black and soft Charbono, and 8% ripe and round Merlot. This California red wine blend is a mouthful of fruit, which will stand up to any varietal wine and will entice you to break out the barbecue.

Good deep ruby. Aromas of wild blueberry jelly, minerals, violet, bitter chocolate and pepper. Sweet and pliant; juicy without being thick. Terrific intensity to the dark berry, spice and chocolate flavors. Finishes with tongue-clenching tannins and a note of iron. A captivating blend that takes advantage of high-altitude petite sirah (at 2,800 feet) in Lake County. andldquo;This kind of wine is what Napa Valley did until Andre Tchelischeff came along in the late andrsquo;40s,andrdquo; noted winemaker Bob Foley.

The 2008 The Griffin is something new, an homage to Ireland consisting of 42% Petite Sirah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Charbono, and 8% Merlot. Beautiful black raspberry, blueberry, spicy, peppery fruit jump from the glass of this dense purple wine. Foley has somehow built considerable sweet tannin into the full-bodied, fleshy mouthfeel. This is something California needs to do more of andmdash; creative blends that are loaded with personality and soul. This wine is part Rhone Ranger and part classic Napa Cabernet. Drink it over the next decade.

Ripe enough in blackberries, currants and mocha, with an earthy, tobacco herbaceousness. The tannins are potent, making the wine hard. Drink now, after a good decanting.