Vermeil Wines XXXIV Red Wine Blend Frediani Vineyard Calistoga 2023
Full-bodied red wine blend · Vermeil Wines, founded by Hall of Fame football coach Dick Vermeil in partnership with Thomas Rivers Brown, is a respected boutique winery focusing on small-production, high-character Napa Valley and Sonoma wines, particularly celebrated for utilizing historic, old-vine vineyards.
Vintage: 2023
Type
Full-bodied red wine blend
Producer
Vermeil Wines, founded by Hall of Fame football coach Dick Vermeil in partnership with Thomas Rivers Brown, is a respected boutique winery focusing on small-production, high-character Napa Valley and Sonoma wines, particularly celebrated for utilizing historic, old-vine vineyards.
Country
United States
Vintage
2023
Region & Appellation
Calistoga AVA, Napa Valley, California, United States
Grape Varieties
A proprietary red field blend traditionally anchored by old-vine heritage varieties from the Frediani Vineyard, commonly featuring combinations of Zinfandel, Charbono, Petite Sirah, and/or Cabernet Sauvignon.
Color & Appearance
Deep, opaque ruby-purple core with a vibrant magenta rim, displaying high viscosity and thick, slow-moving legs that signify concentration and extract.
Aroma Profile
Intense nose of ripe blackberry, black cherry, and brambly wild berries, complemented by secondary notes of cracked black pepper, dark chocolate, sweet pipe tobacco, and subtle vanilla oak undertones.
Tasting Notes
A powerful and richly structured palate offering an initial surge of dark berry fruit and spice, evolving into layers of mocha and earthy complexity, culminating in a long, warming, and harmonious finish.
Flavor Profile
Pronounced flavors of black plum, boysenberry, and black cherry, layered with savory notes of dried herbs, espresso bean, baking spices, and a touch of dusty earth characteristic of northern Napa Valley.
Body & Texture
Full-bodied with a rich, velvety mouthfeel, generous concentration, and a smooth, enveloping texture that balances its substantial extract.
Acidity & Tannins
Medium-plus acidity provides a refreshing lift to the rich dark fruit, balanced by firm, fine-grained, and ripe tannins that give structure without aggressive astringency.
Sweetness Level
Dry, with rich ripe fruit perceptions giving a lush impression while maintaining a completely dry finish.
Alcohol Content
14.5% to 15.0% ABV, typical for robust Calistoga reds, providing warmth and depth to the body.
Aging & Oak
Aged in French oak barrels, a portion new, which imparts delicate notes of vanilla, toast, and subtle spice while allowing the expressive fruit of the historic vineyard to shine.
Food Pairings
Ideal with grilled ribeye steak, slow-roasted barbecue beef brisket, hearty lamb stews, wild boar ragù, or aged sharp cheddar and gouda cheeses.
Serving Suggestions
Serve at 60-65°F in a large Bordeaux or universal red wine glass. Decanting for 1 to 2 hours is recommended to open up the intense aromatics and soften the youthful structure.
Price Range
$50 - $80 USD
Quality Assessment
Super-premium boutique tier, typically scoring in the 91-94 point range by major wine critics for its expression of old-vine Calistoga terroir and meticulous craftsmanship.
Production Methods
Hand-harvested from low-yielding vines, traditional destemmed fermentation with gentle pump-overs, native and cultured yeast fermentations, and traditional barrel aging without excessive fining or filtration.
Terroir
The Frediani Vineyard in Calistoga features warm daytime temperatures tempered by afternoon breezes rolling in from the Chalk Hill gap, planted on well-draining alluvial and gravelly loam soils that yield concentrated, deeply flavored grapes.
History & Heritage
Vermeil Wines was born out of Dick Vermeil's lifelong passion for wine and his deep roots in the Napa Valley community, honoring his grandfather's winemaking heritage in Italy and his hometown ties in St. Helena.
Interesting Facts
The Roman numeral XXXIV (34) on the label references Dick Vermeil's famous coaching career and jersey/victory milestones, while the Frediani Vineyard is legendary for preserving some of the oldest surviving vines in Calistoga.
Cellaring Potential
Approachable in its youth with proper decanting, but possesses the structure and concentration to age gracefully over the next 5 to 10 years, developing more complex tertiary leather and earth notes.
Similar Wines
Turley Wine Cellars Zinfandel/Red Blends, Chateau Montelena Zinfandel, Brown Estate Zinfandel, and other high-end Calistoga field blends.