Bootleg Wine Works Napa Valley Red Blend 2013

Alan Hyde

Starts out with some strong berry put there is virtually no finish.

Isaac Pirolo

Bootleg is the newest Napa label under the Jackson Family umbrella, which also includes Cardinale, Freemark Abbey, Galerie, La Jota, Lokoya, and Mt. Brave. The label pays homage to “the winegrowing rogues, who smuggled vine cuttings from renowned French vineyards and replanted them in California.” Kristy Melton, formerly director of winemaking at Clos du Val, crafts the wines and this blend of 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Petite Sirah, 21% Zinfandel, 12% Merlot, 3% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot. The fruit is sourced from vineyards on Atlas Peak, Oakville, Mt. Veeder, Rutherford and Spring Mountain. Parker called it “off-the-charts in terms of its hedonistic appeal” and I can’t disagree. Blackberry, kirsch and cassis combine to yield an ultra rich fruit bomb, but it doesn’t stop there, adding Rutherford dust, cocoa powder, licorice, purple flowers, cedar, and crushed rock. I’ve heard several comparisons of this to the wines of Orin Swift, and while both are fruit bomb, high octane wines, I’m more inclined to compare this to something like Andy Erickson’s Leviathan.

Randy Fillingim

Still drinking pretty decent after 10 years. The fruits are running a little ahead of the tannins -but very close. Nice mouth feel. A very pleasant drink. 

Jan A

Up two points on day two (94RP)

Frank Kuo

Dark hazy purple with a bit bloody note on the rim. Nose of nice cherry, tobacco leaves, sweet dried fruit, a bit leather, a bit minty, and a bit strawberries. Taste is silky while the taste is a bit dull. Decide to wait for a few moments. After breathing, taste is quite with sweet with minty and earthy salty note, a bit zesty, and tobacco leaves again. Aftertaste is bittersweet, some bold tannins with a bit sulfate note, not impressed on the aftertaste. Overall the price tag is quite high but she has above average quality.

David Burke

Rich cherry tones with a tobacco finish.

Jonathan Wall

Bigly big. Gratuitous use of sediment.

William Michael

94??? Not so much

Mareta Holt Giannotta

We tasted tobacco or maybe espresso? Not a great nose considering how full it is. Wonderful color. Smooth, full but not too robust, slightly dry finish, didn't linger. Paired with steak. Very good.

Ronnie Fung

Gina