Lewis Cellars "Alec's Blend" Napa Valley Red Blend 2001

Lewis Cellars "Alec's Blend" Napa Valley Red Blend 2001

Celebrating a career impacting event for son Alec, we pulled this vintage release of  'Alec's Blend' to celebrate, albeit virtually, remotely from Alec in NYC.

Our visit to Lewis Cellars was one of the most anticipated wine producer visit tastings at our  Pour Boys 2017 Napa Wine Experience . As I've often written in these pages about the fun we have with this branding, with its signature 'L' on the label, ala Laverne and Shirley, or wife Linda, or her mother Lucy, or our daughter Erin Leigh, or her daughter, our first grandchild/daughter Lucy! That coupled with the Hoosier heritage of Randy Lewis, Indy 500 race driver from our native Indiana, and, their affinity to family, naming labels after their grandkids - Alec, Ethan and Mason,  we adopted Alec's Blend as a signature label for son Alec and feature it at family celebrations.

As I have written in these pages, Lewis wines are family favorites for such special occasions, punctuated by this namesake Blend for son Alec. This blend is dedicated to Randy and Debbie Lewis' first grandson, Alec, who was born on the day of the harvest of the grapes for this wine leading to the name. I learned at our tasting that this is the inaugural vintage of this label/blend of which we still hold two bottles, and every

Lewis Cellars "Alec's Blend" Napa Valley Red Blend 2001
 

8/6/2005 - I wrote: 92 Points

Full firm rich berry, currant, raspberry and sweet milk chocolate on a long smooth fruit-filled finish.

Its hard to believe its been over a dozen years since we last tasted this vintage of this label. Alas, we hold vintages of this label dating back to 1999.

http://www.mcnees.org/winesite/journal/Archive/winesite_journal_2005_h2.htm#Aug%206

The 2001 is 60% Syrah and 40% Merlot. Its big rich and complex loaded with black and blue berry fruits that are taking on more of a raisin metallic layer accented by lavender, as it ages and approaches the end of its prime drinking window.

Earlier accents of mocha, sweet oak and vanilla and spice are giving way to the tones of super ripe aged fruits, earth and leather. The blue fruits are becoming extraordinarily predominant.

Earlier tasting notes of this label:

http://www.mcnees.org/winesite/journal/Archive/winesite_journal_2003.htm#Dec_23

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2017/08/lewis-cellars-napa-chateau-tasting.html

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=53086

https://www.lewiscellars.com/