2007 McKenzie-Mueller 'The Spaghetti Western' Napa Valley Red Wine

Mission Codename: A Fist Full of Grapes

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Return to McKenzie-Mueller winery and raid their stash. Locate their flagship red blend and retrieve an ample allotment for our eager Operatives.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: McKenzie-Mueller

Wine Subject: 2007 Spaghetti Western, Napa Valley Red Blend

Winemaker: Robert Mueller

Backgrounder: Winemaker, Robert Mueller, whose 40 year career has seen him work at Robert Mondavi, Opus One and McKenzie-Mueller, is revered as one of Napa’s best.

2007 was a banner year for California red wines, earning a stellar 96 Points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. Some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon in the world come from Napa Valley. Today’s limited-production wine is an exciting, expressive, food-fantastic red blend of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Dark ruby hues with a deep and inky heart. At the edge of the glass, a fine ring of magenta encircles the wine. After swirling, the wine settles quickly, leaving behind tall columns of very slow-moving legs.

Smell – Bright and sweet, balances beautifully againstdark and earthy. Juicy red cherry, dried cranberry and wild strawberry are in perfect juxtaposition with dusty bramble, dried leather, soft cedar, subtle brown spice and black pepper.

Feel – Medium bodied, initially, this wine grows on the palate, stretching out and driving a mouth-coating plushness that spreads a dryness from corner to corner. Bright acidity presents at the edges of the palate and integrated tannins give the wine a plush, softly dry feel.

Taste – Black cherry and brambly blackberry meld with dried cherry, black currant, black plum, dried tobacco leaf, black pepper and flinty minerals.

Finish – Long and flavorful, with black cherry juice, black currant, blackberry and softly spicy plum. After the wine breathes for a while, it reveals toasty oak, cocoa dust, bramble, black pepper and a hint of savory sage.

Conclusion – This is a wine that is built for food! Each sip is a flavor-filled, palate-cleansing delight. This delicious wine is loaded with dark fruit, but it presents such great acidity as well. When I reviewed this wine, I first wondered if the winery picked early, which would give the wine that bright, high-acid quality. However, I quickly realized that there was plenty of dark, extracted fruit, too. Pair this wine with a hearty grilled meat. I enjoyed mine with a huge plate of spaghetti and meatballs! The combination is fun and just right. This limited-production wine (each bottle is numbered) gets my hearty recommendation.

Mission Report:

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the McKenzie-Mueller Winery can be seen in this satellite photo.