Bond Quella 2006

Professional Ratings

• 94 Wine & Spirits
  From a steep, nine-acre vineyard in the eastern hills of the Napa Valley, this is the first vintage of Quella. The soil includes river rock mixed with volcanic tuff, producing an expression that's distinctly different from Pluribus. What's similar is the way the flavors emanate from the structure, initially severe in its tannins, with a perfumed scent of roses and violets brightening their earthy, dusty blackness. There's a sense of restrained ripeness that's unusual in this part of the valley, with scents of sour cherry and cranberry following a beautiful arc of flavor. There's also a resonant umami character, like the flavor of grilled hedgehog mushrooms. This is vinous and fresh, with a clarity and surety to its structure that predicts a long life ahead.
• 93 Wine Spectator
  Complex, perfumed aromas of ripe cherry, plum and currant tighten up in this full-bodied, well-structured wine. Focused and concentrated, this slowly unfolds to reveal greater depth and concentration, ending with a long, persistent finish.
• 92 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  The newest entry into these single-vineyard wines (which are virtually all 100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is the 2006 Quella. Dense purple, this wine comes across as the most austere of any of these wines. This dense, rich, elegant wine displays impressive notes of espresso roast intermixed with blackberry and floral-infused blue fruits, but in the finish the tannins kick in, and the wine seems closed and in need of considerable aging. I would sit on this for a good half dozen years, and drink it over the following two decades.
• 92 James Suckling
  Very ripe on the nose with notes of raisins and spice. Full bodied, with a loamy and chocolate character. Almost meaty... although a bit hot on the palate.