Tasting Notes

Sir Francis Drake's Golden Hull on the label seems to suit this "old school"-styled Cabernet Sauvignon, with classic ripe cherry and tobacco aromas fresh and forward. Made with only 30 percent new oak-to avoid overwhelming the fruit-its red berry aromas stand tall, while gentle tannins buoy this medium-bodied red. Drink now through 2012.

Winery Story

One of the remaining maritime mysteries is the question of where-exactly-Sir Francis Drake landed in North America. He was on his historic circumnavigation (1577-1580) of the globe for Queen Elizabeth I, on the lookout for settlements and the Spanish Armada when he touched land. The location, which the intrepid explorer dubbed Nova Albion, remains unclear, with several historians presenting conflicting evidence to support their theories. One pinpointed the location in Oregon, another in Vancouver BC-but several experts believe the location to be near Bodega Bay in Marin County, California.

Nova Albion Winery is named for this mysterious location, but the quality winemaking in the bottle is no mystery. With grapes sourced from Georges de Latour vineyard (and others) on the Napa Valley floor, the wine has distinct "Rutherford dust," the dry, earthy element found in grapes grown near Rutherford. And with small barrel aging of partial new oak, the resulting reds achieve the balance between oak flavor and terroir expression.