Peter Paul Master‘s Blend Red Wine Napa Valley 2018

Just when we think we’ve tried it all, an established, small brand comes knocking on our door and pours us such outstanding wines that we think “how have we never had these before?!” Well in this case - the Peter Paul wines, with total production across multiple wines of under 2,000 cases and minimal representation in only a handful of states - that’s how. Between philanthropist Peter Paul, and Master of Wine, Martin Reyes, this brand quietly produces outstanding Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Bordeaux varieties with fruit from some of the most outstanding vineyards in both Sonoma and Napa Valley. It took multiple cell phone calls to get this wine to you today, and once you pop the cork, you’ll see that it was certainly worth the effort!

Peter Paul has a head for numbers and has achieved incredible financial success through his business, Headlands Mortgage, which became one of the premier mortgage lending institutions in the US. As many businessmen do, Peter became acquainted with the wonderful world of fine wine via long business dinners and travel. In 1999, his entrepreneurial drive changed him from wine-lover to vintner when he and a friend launched Grove Street Winery with a vision to produce affordable, super-premium Sonoma County wines. Peter’s brand had acclaimed success, and in 2008, he sold the Grove Street Winery to vintner Leslie Rudd (you may have heard that name tossed around here at ACME before…). The sale allowed him the space and freedom to focus on his latest passion, Peter Paul Wines.

Any wine brand that hopes to be successful needs a mind that knows the business. And yes, certainly Peter knew ‘business’, but Martin knows the wine business. His résumé is beyond impressive, having worked as the senior buyer for The New York Times Wine Club, Williams-Sonoma Wine, The Washington Post Wine Club, and Global Wine Cellars, as well as a consultant to The Michael Mina Wine Club. To say that Martin knows the ins and outs of this business is putting it lightly. In 2018, Martin earned the title Master of Wine (MW); where he found the time to study for this near impossible test between all of his roles within the industry is beyond us! Today, aside from helming production for Peter Paul, Martin judges for various international wine competitions, including International Wine Challenge, James Beard Awards, Decanter World Wine Awards and consults for a small client list of wineries and imports. Phew!

The 2018 Master’s Blend is comprised of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot and Merlot. The fruit was sourced from a handful of vineyards spanning the Rutherford and Calistoga AVA’s. In the cellar, the wine received minimal racking and was aged for 26 months in 75% new French Oak. The resulting wine is lush and expressive with notes of cedar, tobacco leaf, olive, and black cherry. A deeply rewarding wine that captures Peter’s core philosophy of balanced winemaking while paying homage to the artistry of Bordeaux’s blending tradition. A mere 186 cases produced, and certainly cellar-worthy for 15+ years!