2013 Bond Vineyards Quella Proprietary Blend

2013 Bond Vineyards Quella

97 JS

Featured Review

Lots of black pepper and dark fruits with plums on the nose and palate. Full-bodied, tannic and powerful. So muscular. Flexing. Form and chewiness throughout. This will need five years of bottle age on release before trying. James Suckling

James Suckling | 97 JS

Much more structured, muscular, tannic and intense is the 2013 Quella, which exhibits blackberry notes, licorice, some truffle, graphite and damp earth, huge fruit, a muscular, full-bodied mouthfeel, and a long, moderately tannic finish. Forget it for a few years and drink it over the following 25-30+ years.

Robert Parker | 96+ RP

The 2013 Quella is dark, ample and enveloping in all of its dimensions. Super-ripe black cherry, mocha, spice and leather notes flesh out in the glass. All things considered, the Quella is a fairly approachable 2013 Cabernet. Although it can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring, the 2013 has plenty of vintage 2013 structure lurking beneath the huge, expansive fruit. This is a gorgeous Quella.

Vinous Media | 96 VM

Black cherry, raspberry, herbs and coniferous forest floor marry in the Quella’s bouquet, followed by a wine of real energy on the palate, with a vibrant core of acidity and elgeant filigree tannins. The Quella derives from a site not far from Melbury, but poor, well-drained volcanic soils yield a very different wine. Drinking Window 2018 - 2038

Decanter | 95 DEC

Tough from the get-go, with taut, chalky, extracted tannins and a tightfisted core of dark berry and oak flavors. Best from 2020 through 2030. 495 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 91 WS

Type of Wine	California Red : Whether it's Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Zinfandel, Californian red wine producers have a lovely habit of taking a varietal and expressing its essence in a unique, never before seen way. From Napa Valley to the regions south of Los Angeles, there's a red for everyone - and it's never too late to start exploring.
Varietal	Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country	US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region	California : With a history of wine production that dates back to the 18th century, California currently sits as one of the world's most prolific and reputable wine regions. With an area as vast as California, you can expect a colorful collage of terroir profiles, a series of microclimates, and micro-environments that give the wine a unique, memorable appeal. The region's produce is far from homogenized in that sense, and it would take you countless hours to sample all of it. While the region boasts scars from the Prohibition era, it went through what can only be described as a viticultural Renaissance sometime after the 1960s. At that point, California went from a port-style, sweet wine region to a versatile and compelling competitor on the world market. Today, no matter which way your taste in wine leans, you can find a new favorite producer among California's most talented. Notable sub-regions include legendary names like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, places that any wine lover would die to visit. California's quintessential warm climate allows for incredibly ripe fruit expressions, a style that provides a stark contrast to Old World-inspired, earthy classics. Even where inspiration was clearly taken from staple French appellations, Californian winemakers put their own unique spin on the wine.
Subregion	Napa Valley
Appellation	Oakville
Climat/Vineyard	Quella