This virtually opaque ruby/purple-hued 2013 Cabernet Franc shows gorgeous aromas of blueberry, boysenberry, and cassis interlaced with complex layers of dark chocolate, fresh earth, leather, anise, sage, and mineral flavors. Wonderfully balanced, with a full-bodied, mouth-filling richness and supple-texture the wine has a long and sophisticated finish.
Metaphora observes the time-honored practices that
include carefully monitored growing, an impeccably
timed harvest, handpicked and hand-sorted
grapes placed in small bins, cold-soaked for maximum
extraction of the skins, whole cluster fermentation,
and meticulously managed aging in the
highest quality French oak barrels.
Wine has long been a metaphor for the best life has to offer – a celebration of family and friends, momentous events, the ultimate symbol of living well. For Metaphora founder, Ravi Mehta, the meaning runs deeper: it is a playful pun in honor of his family: “Four Mehtas,” an homage to artisan winemaking which prizes the integrity of each bottle, and a celebration of wine as the quintessential embodiment of joie de vivre, represented by the Three Graces: Aglaia (Splendor), Euphrosyne (Mirth), and Thalia (Good Cheer), who adorn the label and speak to the philosophy behind Metaphora wines.
Each bottle is a meditation on wine as art – utilizing the best grapes from Napa Valley’s most famed vineyards, and dedicated to excellence in winemaking, each vintage is handcrafted and made in limited quantities to ensure that quality is never compromised. Metaphora observes the time-honored practices that include carefully monitored growing, an impeccably timed harvest, handpicked and hand-sorted grapes placed in small bins, cold-soaked for maximum extraction of the skins, whole cluster fermentation, and meticulously managed aging in the highest quality French oak barrels.
The first vintage of Metaphora Cabernet Sauvignon in 2005 was a collaboration with acclaimed winemakers Chuck and Joseph Wagner of renowned Caymus Vineyards, and continues today in the hands of present winemaker, Mark Herold, who places an emphasis on the dynamic dialogue between fine food and wine. Chef Thomas Keller selected the first vintage of Metaphora Rosé of Pinot Noir to complement his cuisine at the prestigious Bocuse D’Or in 2010, and it has the distinction of being the only domestic rosé on the wine list at the French Laundry.
The classic circular pose of the Three Graces is said to symbolize the three aspects of the gift: giving, accepting, and returning. And for Ravi, the realization of Metaphora is a gift— the culmination of his lifelong passion for wine, which led to a home in the hills of Napa Valley and the production of Metaphora. Each bottle represents, for him, the unity of family and the deep joy of friendship – an expression of the way in which good wine draws people together. The release of these personal, small-lot wines to wine enthusiasts is the completion of a circle. He believes the truly transcendent quality of wine is that it is best when shared, and hopes Metaphora wines will be a gift you share with those closest to you and plays a part in creating your treasured memories – whether to mark a significant event, special meal, or merely a successful days’ end.
The Three Graces imbue every occasion with beauty, charm and inspiration, and so too does wine. Throughout history, it has been the expression of human happiness and joy, and it is the core of the philosophy at Metaphora that wine is more than a beverage, and even the greatest wines are more than the sum of their parts. Wine is metaphor— the music in our lives, a time to pause and make each day a celebration.
Cabernet Franc, a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, is the subtler and more delicate of the Cabernets. Today Cabernet Franc produces outstanding single varietal wines across the wine-producing world. Somm Secret—One of California's best-kept secrets is the Happy Canyon appellation of Santa Barbara. Here Cabernet Franc shines as a single varietal wine or in blends, expressing sumptuous fruit, savory aromas and polished tannins.
Originally a source of oenological sustenance for gold-seeking miners of the mid-1800s, the Sierra Foothills was the first region in California to produce wines from European grape varieties. Located between Sacramento and the Nevada border, this area’s immigrant settlers chose to forgo growing the then-ubiquitous Mission grape and instead brought with them superior vines from the Old World to plant alongside mining camps.
Zinfandel has been the most important variety of this region since its inception, taking on a spicy character with brambly fruit and firm structure. Amador and El Dorado counties, benefiting from the presence of volcanic and granite soils, are home to the best examples. Bold, robust Rhône Blends and Barbera are also important regional specialties.
