95+pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Given the fact that the 2013 had been in bottle only five weeks when I tasted it, some allowance should be made by readers that it may have been somewhat less expressive, but it certainly strutted its stuff. A blend of 68% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine has beautifully fragrant, fresh earth, coffee, chocolate, blackberry and cassis notes, a brawny, vigorous, uplifting mouthfeel, a tightly coiled texture, and moderately intense but sweet tannin. The purity, freshness and vigor are all there, but the wine still resembles a barrel sample, as one might expect. Forget it for another 4-5 years and drink it over the following two decades.

Tasting Notes

Beautiful aromas of red cherry & blackberry fruit. Hints of cocoa powder & espresso
bean. Floral notes of violets & wild cassis with subtle tones of vanilla, cedar and spice! Rich, plush mouthfeel with a fabulous velvety texture! Layers of crushed red cherries & sweet blackberry fruit. Hints of dark chocolate and cocoa powder. Full-bodied with excellent structure & acidity. Soft, sweet tannins with good grip & weight. Complex with layers of rich fruit and hints of earth & minerality laced throughout. Wonderfully balanced! Bold, long finish with great acidity! Rich and complex, with hints of dark chocolate and espresso!

Pairing: Bone-In Rib Eye, Grilled Veal Chops, New York Strip, Italian Food … or a delicious Gourmet Wabyu Burger! A Great Food Wine !

Winemaker Notes

Before there was a PALAZZO Cabernet Franc maiden for the French Laundry…or a PALAZZO Cuvée Blanc made from ‘crazy 65+ year old’ Semillon vines…there was my 1st vintage of PALAZZO 2003 ‘Right Bank’ Proprietary Red Wine! And it was this wine that caught the attention of Top Sommeliers & Chefs across the country!

The wine has exceptional character & beauty! Floral & intriguing on the nose…complex and rich with delicious layers of red & black fruit on the palate…balanced throughout with good acidity, minerality & structure! In essence… A Great Food Wine! As always, Merlot makes up the lion’s share of the blend…giving the wine its sheer power & strength, silky texture, and beautiful layers of rich cherry & blackberry fruit. The Cabernet Franc adds brightness, acidity and ‘floral notes’ to the wine. While the Cabernet Sauvignon adds structure & character…with hints of dark chocolate, earth/minerality, and cocoa & espresso bean to the finish.

Our goal at PALAZZO WINE is, and always will be, to produce beautiful wines of outstanding quality, with distinction and class! Wines that are both ‘powerful & elegant’ and pair well with a broad range of foods!