Wine Each Week: 2016 Flora Springs Trilogy

Most every major Cabernet Sauvignon producer in Napa has their flagship wine and for Flora Springs, it is Trilogy, which first appeared in 1984. Trilogy has an emphasis on New French Oak and if you love that luxurious, smooth, comforting type of wine, this certainly will play well on your table. The fruit comes from Oakville, St. Helena, and Rutherford so though subtle, it offers some of the best grapes from quality growing regions.

The 2016 iteration offers up rich black berry, blueberry, boysenberry and black cherry notes, along with vanilla, white pepper, cinnamon and subtle notes of amber, sugared almonds and black strap molasses, chaparral and cocoa. Trilogy is comprised mainly of Cabernet Sauvignon, with just 8% Petite Verdot and 6% Malbec. Aged 20 months with mostly French Oak it accentuates what many Napa Cabs strive for, a balance on fruit, food and place.

ORIGIN: Napa Valley, California

ALCOHOL: 13.5%

PRICE: $85/ 750ML

SCORE: 91 POINTS

FLORA SPRINGS

On Your Mark: Markham’s 35th Birthday

I don’t recall what I did for my 35^th birthday. And I’m guessing you really don’t care. But Markham Winery’s birthday is a different story, you know, cause they make wine…wine that you buy. It was 1980 when the first vintage of Markham Merlot hit the shelves, and Merlot--that underappreciated grape--has been Bruce Markham’s success since then. The winery in St. Helena traces it’s roots (pun intended) back to the 1870s when it was founded. Bruce and Kate Markham rebooted the old winery as Markham in 1978, keeping the history alive, and creating new wines. Sure there are other wines in their portfolio, Chardonnay, Cabernet, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Pinot and others, but it is Merlot they are known for, and what they do exceptionally well. So we’re celebrating with Merlot and cake (no, it’s not merlot-cake, it’s a lovely chocolate cake from WeTakeTheCake) but more importantly it’s the 2014 Markham Merlot that you should get your hands on. It offers ample mild fruit of bing cherry, blueberry, boysenberry and rustic sweet cedar, beautifully integrated tannins and a mild acidity and ultimately is a terrific value - a wine that is truly worth getting to know. Happy birthday, Markham!

ORIGIN: Napa, California

PRICE: $25/ 750ML

ALCOHOL: 14.2%

BOOZEHOUNDZ SCORE:  90 POINTS

Bruce and Kate Markham