Materra Right Bank 2019
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James
Suckling -
Wine
Enthusiast
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Brilliant ruby in color, with a very alluring nose. Initial notes of plum and clove lead to more black cherry and hint of vanilla on the palate. The mouthfeel is very plush with soft, silky tannins.
Blend: 91% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of blackcurrant, red licorice, crushed plum and dark chocolate. Full-bodied with silky tannins. Linear palate with a smooth texture. Nice intensity.
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Wine Enthusiast
This Merlot-based blend feels lighter and smoother than many, offering easy drinkability, light tannins and enjoyable plum, cherry and blackberry flavors.
Other Vintages
2016-
Wilfred
Wong
Each Materra wine is a perfect expression of the land, the grapes, the passion the Cunat family has invested in each bottle and the unyielding quality delivered consistently by the growing conditions and terroir of the Napa Valley. Brian and the entire Cunat family look forward to sharing their dreams with you over a glass of Materra.
Materra (a rough translation of Mother Earth in Latin) is not only the name of the wine but also represents the family’s commitment to finding the best soils, climates and water, nurturing these elements and embracing and enhancing Mother Earth’s gifts to produce some of the highest quality grapes and wines from the Oak Knoll district of Napa Valley.
With generous fruit and supple tannins, Merlot is made in a range of styles from everyday-drinking to world-renowned and age-worthy. Merlot is the dominant variety in the wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank regions of St. Emilion and Pomerol, where it is often blended with Cabernet Franc to spectacular result. Merlot also frequently shines on its own, particularly in California’s Napa Valley. Somm Secret—As much as Miles derided the variety in the 2004 film, Sideways, his prized 1961 Château Cheval Blanc is actually a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
As one of Napa’s coolest sub-appellations, the area begs for diversity among its vineyards. Merlot and Chardonnay firmly compete with Cabernet Sauvignon for a place here. Some of Napa’s best Zinfandels also come from the Oak Knoll District.
Situated far in Napa’s southern end, Oak Knoll receives a strong cooling influence from both the San Pablo Bay and the Pacific Coast’s evening fog and breezes. Summer days are warm but on average ten degrees cooler than in St. Helena farther north up the valley; summer nights are chilly. A long growing season promotes for leisurely ripening of grape berries, resulting in an impressive balance of sugars, phenols and acidity.
Notable producers include Trefethen, one of the appellation’s oldest wineries, Robert Biale, legendary Zinfandel producer and Lewis Cellars, a family-run, hands-on establishment.