Larkmead Firebelle 2015

Bordeaux Red Blends from Napa Valley, California

96 James
Suckling
94 Wine
Enthusiast
93 Jeb
Dunnuck
91 Robert
Parker
90 Wine
Spectator

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Larkmead Firebelle 2015 Front Bottle Shot

Product Details

Varietal

Bordeaux Red Blends

Region

Napa Valley, California

Producer

Larkmead

Vintage

2015

Size

750ML

ABV

14.7%

Your Rating

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Somm Note

Winemaker Notes

Lighter color, restrained fruit, and a savory finish are the hallmarks of this year’s Firebelle. Some of the characteristics of the warm vintage are apparent in this Merlot-dominant wine, such as the aromas of roasted meats and the flavors of ripe black and blue plums. But even so, we feel the wine is still reflective of the loam and clay soils in which its grapes were grown. Scents of plum skin greet the nose and are met again on the palate. The same is true of the cocoa and coffee that linger on the finish. These aromas are present, certainly, but remain somewhat compact; they need both air and time to unravel and truly come alive. This particular Firebelle is a complex wine that may appear reticent at first, but with time in the glass becomes supple and expressive. In the finish, youthful tannins blanket the mouth, crying out for food.

Professional Ratings

96 James Suckling
This merlot-based red is really exciting with dark berries, dark chocolate and bark. Full-bodied, dense and layered. So serious and exciting. Merlot is great here. Drink in 2020.
94 Wine Enthusiast
This blends 71% Merlot with 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot. Earthy, it evokes wild truffle and fresh compost, with highlighted flavors of dark plum and cherry. Its soft silky texture is inviting and a complement to the gritty backbone of tannins, which though in check, are plenty powerful.
93 Jeb Dunnuck
The Merlot-dominated cuvee of the estate is the 2015 Firebelle and it checks in as 71% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in 65% new French oak. It offers a terrific bouquet of black cherries, leafy herbs, lavender, and dried violets, medium to full body, loads of minerality, and a fresh, focused, beautifully balanced style.
91 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 71% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot, the 2015 Firebelle Proprietary Red opens with a deep garnet-purple color and baked plums, peppered salami and black forest cake-scented nose with dried herbs and tilled soil nuances. The medium to full-bodied palate is firm, chewy and muscular with earthy suggestions, just lacking a little expressiveness and depth at this stage.
Rating:91+
90 Wine Spectator
This muscular red features dark fruit flavors that are backed by firm tannins and acidity. Savory notes show midpalate, with a finish of dark chocolate and mocha hints. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2021.

Other Vintages

2019

95 Wine
Enthusiast
94 James
Suckling
93 Robert
Parker
92 Jeb
Dunnuck
91 Wine
Spectator

2018

97 Wine
Enthusiast
96 James
Suckling
91 Robert
Parker

2016

96 James
Suckling
94 Jeb
Dunnuck
94 Robert
Parker

2014

94 Robert
Parker

2013

94 James
Suckling
94 Robert
Parker

2012

96 Robert
Parker
94 James
Suckling

2006

91 Robert
Parker

Larkmead

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Larkmead Larkmead Tasting Room Winery Image

Larkmead Winemaker, Dan Petroski Winery Image

Larkmead Vineyards dates back to the late 1800s, is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2020, and has been owned by the SolarI/Baker family since 1948. The historic Larkmead Estate is composed of 150 acres contiguous to the winery with 110 planted to Bordeaux varieties. The true character of Larkmead and its unique wines are a direct result of the topography, climate, and the exceptional geology of the soils. Larkmead manages the dramatic variation in soil types In order to maximize fruit and subsequent wine quality, which creates a diversified flavor profile. Larkmead is 100% Estate fruit; it is therefore imperative that the land is treated as an ecosystem with all factors interrelated and focus on long term soil health. Larkmead is always seeking environmentally sound, long term solutions that promote the natural expression of their vineyards, resulting in wine that is unique in its purity, texture, and complexity.

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Napa Valley Red Wine

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Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.

Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.

PRG000449_15_2015 Item# 430875