The color is intense and beautiful, almost black with purple, reddish hues. Aromas of black cherry, cassis, piecrust, spice, and mint mingle and leap from the glass. The palate is full and concentrated with similar aromas but also featuring black currant and sweet red cherry with the mild presence of oak, seamlessly integrated. Signature finely structured tannins and balanced acidity give way to a long finish which continues to build after that last sip.\n \n Producer Information\n Rombauer Vineyards was established in 1980 in the Napa Valley by Joan and Koerner Rombauer. The first grapes came from grower vineyards in the Stags Leap District and the wine was produced at the Shafer Vineyards, as well as in Koerner's own garage. Today, Rombauer produces wines from both estate and grower vineyards, predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel. In 1982, the Rombauers built their own winery near the family estate in the St Helena hills. That year, they crushed their first Chardonnay grapes and, for the next 15 years, the winery acted as a start-up base for many of today's most well-known producers, including Spottswoode, Dominus and Merryvale. Up until the late 1980s, all the grapes that went into the production of Rombauer wine came from grower vineyards located around the Napa and Sonoma Valleys as well as Carneros. In 1988, Rombauer purchased its first estate vineyard in the St Helena hills, near the winery. It was named Joan's Vineyard after its founder, and contained old vine Zinfandel as well as some plantings of Petite Sirah. In 2002, Buchli Station Vineyard in Carneros was added to the portfolio and planted to Merlot and Chardonnay. By 2013, Rombauer owned vineyards in Atlas Peak, St Helena, Calistoga, the Sierra Foothills, Sonoma and Carneros. Rombauer also still sources grapes from grower vineyards located around California. Today, Rombauer produces a wide range of wines, from single-vineyard selections to regional blends. The portfolio includes three styles of dessert wine – a late-harvest Chardonnay, a fortified Zinfandel and a fortified blend of five varieties rarely found outside of Portugal: Souzao, Alvarelhao, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Cão and Bastardo. Joan Rombauer, who was also national sales director for Stag's Leap Wine Cellars for 12 years, died of pancreatic cancer in 2002 and Koerner, a former commercial pilot and pilot in the California National Guard, died in 2018. The winery is currently overseen by daughter and son Sheana and KR Rombauer.
