2021 Bootleg Wine Works - Red Blend Napa (750ml)

Bootleg Wine Works is part of the Jackson Family Wines portfolio, whose Napa Valley holdings also include Cardinale, Freemark Abbey, La Jota, and Mt. Brave. The label pays tribute to the wine trade's early rule-breakers, the enterprising growers who smuggled vine cuttings from storied French vineyards into California to help build the state's wine industry. Winemaker Brian Kosi, a UC Davis graduate whose family has made wine in Slovenia for generations, brings experience from stints at Acacia, Opus One, Plumpjack, Beaulieu Vineyard, and Freemark Abbey to crafting this bold, unconventional blend.

The 2021 vintage centers on Merlot sourced from the renowned Stagecoach Vineyard, chosen for its upfront red fruit character and soft, approachable tannins, making up fifty-seven percent of the blend. Petite Sirah lends structure at thirty-six percent, with small additions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah rounding out the wine's depth and complexity, all sourced from vineyards across Napa County.

The nose offers blue fruit, cassis, lavender, and warm oak spice, while the palate turns toward dark cherry, plum, and vanilla, layered with hints of bay leaf and leather. Rich tannins and balanced acidity carry through to a long, opulent finish. Try it alongside smoked brisket, grilled burgers, or a wedge of sharp aged cheddar.