Or just when I get to thinking of the winery for one variety, it comes along and knocks my sox off with another. Newlan is open to visitors at its Napa Valley location, but even regular wine country tourists often miss it. It's at the southern end of the valley, before you get onto the stretch where there's a winery every 100 yards. Big and rich with loads of cassis and blackberry fruit with a bittersweet chocolate background. While this wine is bold, deeply extracted and cellar-worthy, it is at once supple and silky and not at all unpleasant or harsh in its youth.
Case purchases highly recommended.
Production and therefore availability is limited, but it is just released so your chances of finding some are increased. About 15 percent is a blend of Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouchet, Carignane and Grand Noir. Big and extractive but not overripe or alcoholic. Very deep black fruit flavors, like black raspberry, black cherry and currant. The Japanese owners, and the former Hungarian manager, were not always on the cutting edge of packaging and marketing.