2022 Fortunate Son, The Diplomat Red Wine Blend, Napa Valley
Decanter 97 Points
Inspired by Winston Churchill, this wine embodies the purity and poise of fine Claret—a quality Jayson Woodbridge believes could stand shoulder to shoulder with France’s greatest vintages. The 2022 is bright, lifted, and subtly powerful—pure-fruited and elegant, yet unmistakably Californian in its confidence and polish. “It’s as good as the British Empire would have been had they loved Claret like this,” muses Woodbridge during our tasting. Red currant and cherry fruit lead the way, accented by perfumed rose petals. The wine glides across the palate with the smooth precision of a Rolls-Royce, every cylinder firing in harmony. The finish is long and refined, with fine cocoa-powder tannins that build around deep, succulent fruit, carrying tremendous intensity and staying power. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2040. Jonathan Cristaldi 31 Jan 2025