The 7 Best Bordeaux Blends From the Napa Valley to Drink Now

Founded in 1998 by Thomas and Brenda Baldacci, Baldacci Family Vineyards continues the legacy of fine winemaking with their extremely talented second-generation winemaker, Michael Baldacci. He has picked up the mantle and maintains his family’s commitment to crafting excellent and sustainably farmed Napa Valley wines. His 2022 Fraternity red blend contains 64 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 16 percent Petit Verdot, 12 percent Syrah, and 8 percent Merlot. It has aromas of cocoa powder, blueberry, and black cherry with plush tannins and flavors of dark plum, brown baking spices, and Oolong tea.

Ashes & Diamonds is owned by Kashy Khaledi, who is well known in the advertising industry for his work with Google, Microsoft, and Viacom. His commitment to fine wine prompted him to hire an elite winemaking team consisting of Steve Matthiasson, Diana Snowden Seysses, and Michael Cruse, who together make stunning wines. Their Ashes & Diamonds 2019 V.1 Bordeaux-style red blend has aromas of cassis, black raspberry, and graphite with rounded tannins and flavors of black cherry, tobacco leaf, and black currant.

Jason Pahlmeyer arrived in Napa Valley just about 40 years ago and planted his hand-carried Bordeaux vines with the goal of making a powerful and rich Bordeaux-style wine in the Napa Valley. The winery has changed hands over the years, but current winemaker Katie Vogt is committed to Jason’s original goal, and we think her Proprietary Red blend totally hits all the marks of a fine wine from Bordeaux. It is comprised of 86 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 4 percent Merlot, 4 percent Cabernet Franc, 3 percent Malbec, and 3 percent Petit Verdot. It has aromas of black currant, black raspberry, and red cherry that transition to flavors of black cherry, black plum, and cassis, all wrapped in a velvety tannic sheath.

Fritz Hatton is renowned in Napa Valley and the world of wine for his amazing talent and success as a fine wine auctioneer. He and his wife, Caren Frutig Hatton, are also known as one of Napa Valley’s premier vintners. They hired consulting winemaker Andy Erickson to make their wine, and over the past 15 years, their portfolio has expanded to include eight wines, many of them with musical and keyboard-based names. This delightful Bordeaux-style wine is a blend of 70 percent Cabernet Franc and 30 percent Merlot, and has enticing aromas of black licorice, chocolate, black raspberry, and espresso with flavors of black plum, red cherry, and red currants. Don’t hesitate, it’s drinking perfectly right now.

Famed Bordeaux wine magnate Jean Pierre Moueix, owner of Chateau Petrus, La Fleur-Petrus, Trotanoy, and Magdelaine, sent his son Christian to University of California at Davis in the late 1960s, but he may have never expected him to fall in love with Napa Valley in such a big way. In 1981, Christian returned to the valley and partnered in the 124-acre historic Napanook Vineyard before eventually becoming its sole owner in 1995. He named his wine Dominus for the Latin word connoting “lord of the estate,” to emphasize his commitment to sustainability and to overseeing the land. A blend of 95 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 5 percent Cabernet Franc, his 2021 has aromas of cedar box, cassis, and brown baking spices, and flavors of tobacco leaf, black raspberry, and red plum all wrapped in luxurious silky tannins.

Janet and John Trefethen founded their eponymous winery five decades ago and quickly set about promoting Napa Valley through John’s presidency at Napa Valley Grape Growers and Napa Valley Vintners as well as Janet’s involvement in the local culinary scene and Napa Valley Cooking Class. Recently, they’ve encouraged their children, Lorenzo and Hailey, to take over the reins, and the young duo is doing an amazing job. Their Dragon’s Tooth red blend is composed of 49 percent Malbec, 37 percent Petit Verdot, and 14 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. It has aromas of black plum, black currant, blueberry, and saddle leather with silky smooth tannins and flavors of cherry, blueberry, tar, and smoky molasses.

Founder and proprietor Fred D’Amato grew up in the world of wine and remembers how his two grandfathers, Giovanni Vella and Onofrio D’Amato, contributed to California winemaking with bottling and the introduction of Italian reds and whites in the 1970s. Fred’s winemaker Patrick Saboe attended University of California at Davis and worked at Robert Sinskey Vineyards before joining Oleandri Wines. His 2022 La Scala is a proprietary red blend of 67 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 percent Merlot, 8 percent Cabernet Franc, 4.5 percent Petite Sirah, and 0.5 percent Petit Verdot with aromas of wild red raspberry, black currant, and fennel frond that transition to flavors of black raspberry and cocoa on the palate with just a touch of cigar box in the finish.