Description
Louis M Martini is one of the oldest vineyards in Napa, with it's roots going all the way back to 1906, when the Martini Wine Company was founded. The young Louis learned his trade in the great vineyards of northern Italy, sent back by his father to learnj the trade. Then in Napa, they planted their first vineyards in 1933, and built their own winery in St Helena. By 1943 they were prominent enough to be a founder of the Louis M. helps to establish the Napa Valley Vintners Association, despite that their already-noted Monte Rosso Vineyard lay outside of Napa!
Since then they have grown, sponsoring and planting superb high-altitude vineyards across Napa and Sonoma. Now owned by Gallo, they have become one of the mainstays of their super-highend portfolio, specialising in big, robust Cabernets. With some fearsomely collectible productions and vintages in their portfolio, it's a joy to see a brand which also produces wine which is delicious at all price-points.
"Now part of the new Crown Collection, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Stagecoach Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color and comes bounding out of the glass with notes of chocolate-covered cherries, mulberries, ripe blueberries and cassis with wafts of lilacs and camphor. Full-bodied, the palate has exquisitely ripe tannins and bold freshness supporting the tightly wound black fruit layers, finishing long and minerally. 409 cases were made." 96+ Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate 2022-2044