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2016 Amuse Bouche Napa Valley Red Blend

Amuse Bouche

2016 Amuse Bouche Napa Valley Red Blend

Twenty years ago, Jim Laube of the Wine Spectator asked Heidi where our vineyard holdings for Amuse Bouche Winery were located. Heidi replied, "I would have to kill you if I told you!" A long silence ensued at our lunch table. This slightly awkward, tongue-in-cheek moment from our wine history is the inspiration for our Vintage 2016 artwork. Heidi Barrett herself painted "A Secret Vineyard," a lovely image that perhaps may give further guidance to Mr. Laube. Heidi has been painting as long as she has been making wine, and we are thrilled to showcase both of her amazing talents in and on the bottle with our Amuse Bouche 2016. The lithographs are gorgeous, expertly produced on Rives paper by our Paris atelier using a 19th- century press. Each one is hand signed and numbered by Heidi herself.

The Wine

Amuse Bouche 2016, made in the Pomerol style, is a blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc from our vineyards on Rutherford's eastern hillside in Napa Valley (hint, hint). We managed to produce 750 cases; and we believe this vintage will be remembered as one of Napa's best.

The Artist: Heidi P Barrett

Heidi Barrett grew up in the Napa Valley in a winemaking family and was destined to become one of California's leading winemakers. It is said that winemaking is a combination of science and art. With a scientist-winemaker father and an artist mother it is no big surprise that Heidi was drawn to the wine industry. With great enthusiasm, a love for what she does, and an incredible wealth of experience, Heidi blends the art and science of winemaking like few can. Read more >

95+
Points
The Wine Advocate
2016 Vintage
"A blend of 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc, the medium garnet-purple colored 2016 Proprietary Red Blend Amuse Bouche sings of crushed red and black plums, black cherry compote, Ceylon tea, licorice and Indian spices with a waft of potpourri. The palate is medium to full-bodied, exquisitely elegant with firm yet satiny tannins, refreshing, perfumed, spicy and very long with savory notions coming through." - The Wine Advocate/Robert Parker, October 2018
Featured
Robb Report
2016 Vintage
"Barrett's artistry cuts two ways for this Merlot-Cabernet Franc blend: She not only made the wine but also painted the vineyard image on the label (Barrett long ago added "commercial artists" to her list of talents). The wine is a swirl of dark-cherry and plum notes mixed with anise, black tea and exotic spices backed by silky tannins." - Robb Report, December 2019