Hourglass HG III Red Blend 2016 | Fruit Driven Age-worthy Special Blend
Cabernet Sauvignon hand-harvested off the Blueline vineyard, blended with Merlot and Petit Sirah. Bright ruby in color. Bursting with boysenberry, blueberry, black plum, graphite and sweet clove notes. Hourglass HG III Red Blend 2016 is supple and mouth-filling with open-knit texture on the palate. In addition revealing layers of black plum, black currant, thyme, mocha, and crème-de-cassis. Finally, a long 30-45 second fruit-driven finish. Yet another amazing effort from “virtually perfect” winemaker Tony Biagi.
But Biagi’s deft touch is only half of what makes the Hourglass HG III Red Blend 2016 outstanding. The other half comes from the vines. While Cabernet comes from the Blueline Vineyard, named for the two “blue-line” streams that run along its edges. Residing within a stone’s throw of both Switchback Ridge and Three Palms—two sources of California’s most famous Merlots since the 1980s. As a result, Biagi’s lush Hourglass HG III Red Blend 2016 leverages Merlot with a touch of Petit Sirah from select Napa parcels adding depth and richness. Hence, resulting in pure harmony for this gorgeous Red blend.
About Hourglass and the HG III Blend | Rich, Soft & Seductive
Hired by cult standout Hourglass in 2012, Biagi is on fire yet again. His Hourglass HG III Red Blend 2016 was plainly showing off. While creating the blend to best utilize the juice not suited for their estate wines. But instead creating a new special blend ready now, yet age-worthy in its own right.
Rather unctuous and sexy, loaded with ripe dark fruit, with silky, fine-grained tannins, and a kiss of mocha. As a result, ever since the first release of HG III Red back in 2012, Robert Parker and Antonio Galloni have heaped on the praise. But in 2016, Biagi has taken this super-cuvee to new heights. Notably blending Blueline Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon with select Merlot and Petit Sirah parcels in Napa. When tasted out of the barrel, the Advocate called the early HG III “beautifully scented, full-bodied, rich, soft and seductive. Also with “plenty of vivacity on the finish.
Winemaker Tony Biagi | Virtually Perfect
If you want to know what makes winemaker Tony Biagi so special, just ask Robert Parker. Calling him, “one of my favorite personalities in the valley. First working at Duckhorn under famed enologist Tom Rinaldi. Next engineering an astonishing run of 99- and 98-point wines during his nearly decade-long tenure at PlumpJack and Cade. Furthermore, wines now retailing for $300 to $800 per bottle.
Hence, Parker calling his efforts “virtually perfect.” Now at Hourglass, Biagi continues to demonstrate why he’s one of the Valley’s greatest winemakers. And he’s only getting better. As Antonio Galloni wrote of Biagi’s 2016s, “there is plenty to admire in these new and forthcoming releases from Hourglass. Also specifically praising the HG III as “soft, pliant and nuanced.
