TASTING NOTES
Our tasting notes reflect the uniqueness of each vintage highlighting the varietals selected that year along with the nose, palate, and color as the wine aged from French oak to bottle.
CURRENT RELEASE
2020 ESTATE PINOT NOIR
An award-winning third vintage of Estate Pinot Noir with fruit grown exclusively from the Kipper Family Vineyard in the Los Carneros region in Napa.
Dark garnet in color delivering bold aromas of black cherry, plum, cinnamon and bergamot orange. Flavor profile of rich and ripe Bing cherries, cola berries, and red licorice. Nicely balanced and structured with layers of velvet-like sweet tannins. Full bodied with a lingering silky red fruit finish.
Approachable and ready to enjoy now. Aged12 months in French Oak and one year in bottle. Smuggler’s Selection limited two-barrel production of only 50 cases. Will continue to age gracefully.
Rated: 91 Los Angeles Invitational Wine Challenge
2017 THE SMUGGLER’S SON
2017 The Smuggler’s Son is brilliant crimson in color with scents of pomegranate, bing cherry, and toasted marshmallow on the nose. A sophisticated well balanced red blend with bright flavors of dark chocolate covered black cherry, dark plum, wild blackberry, vanilla, and fine cocoa powder. The finish is juicy and refined with raspberry, leather, tobacco and subtle spices.
Eighteen months in French Oak. Bottle aged, ready to enjoy now and will continue to age gracefully for the next 3-5 years. Limited production of 450 cases.
Rated: 91 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition
LIBRARY VINTAGES (SOLD OUT)
2022 THE SMUGGLER’S DAUGHTER
Virgil’s Vineyard is pleased to announce the release of The Smuggler’s Daughter, our first commercial vintage of Rosé. Named in honor of Patricia and Margaret, daughters of Virgil Kipper, family winemaker and smuggler during Prohibition in Detroit, Michigan.
Stunning color of watermelon and peach roses delivering fragrant aromas of strawberry and cherry. Refreshing yet complex flavors of Rainer cherry and pomegranite with a salivating finish of Alpine Strawberry. Well-balanced acidity in a dry, bold, full-bodied Rosé with a lingering silky red fruit finish.
A vibrant Rosé produced in the saignée method blended from California red varietals. Ready to be chilled and enjoyed now at your summer cookouts, at the pool, or on the boat.
Only one barrel produced, with limited availability of only 25 cases through this website or at the winery in Napa.
2016 THE SMUGGLER’S SON
2016 The Smuggler’s Son presents a vibrant garnet color. The nose is elegant and packed with aromas of rich black fruit, jammy plum, and wild blueberry cheesecake.
The wine is an approachable yet full-bodied blend of old-vine Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Petite Sirah bringing out the bright fruit of the four varietals, producing flavors of ripe explosive blue fruit and black cherry including notes of milk chocolate, vanilla, and delicate white pepper.
The mouthfeel is broad and expansive framed with fine-grained sweet tannins and a lingering finish of Laxardo Cherries, mission fig, and ripe cranberry. Fruit forward and approachable now, 2016 The Smuggler’s Son will continue to age gracefully for the next 3-5 years. Limited production of under 500 cases.
Rated: 89 Wine Enthusiast
88 Wine Spectator
2019 ESTATE PINOT NOIR
The second vintage of Pinot Noir from the rolling hills of the Kipper Family Estate Vineyard. Located in the Los Carneros appellation of the Napa Valley with breathtaking views from the vineyard cooled with the maritime winds from the northern extension of San Francisco Bay.
A medium bodied and opulent estate vineyard pinot noir from the Los Carneros region of Napa. A cabernet-lovers pinot, deep ruby in color with a nose of crushed Silverado strawberries and dark cherry, along with a light hint of eucalyptus.
Orange peel and ripe pomegranate highlight the bright fruit flavors along with subtle characteristics of cardamon spice. Soft light tannins support a well-balanced medium bodied wine.
Fruit forward and approachable now, will continue to age gracefully. 12 months in French Oak and one year bottle aged. Smuggler’s Selection limited one barrel production of only 25 cases. Drink now through 2027.
2018 ESTATE PINOT NOIR
The first vintage of Pinot Noir from the rolling hills of the Kipper Family Estate Vineyard. Located in the Los Carneros appellation of the Napa Valley with breathtaking views from the vineyard cooled with the maritime wind from the northern extension of San Francisco Bay.
Graceful and elegantly structured with expressive red fruit. Light crimson in color. Subtle, delicate, and rich with a vibrant mix of dark Bing cherry, orange zest, and boysenberry flavors.
Light tannins and acidity with a long crisp red fruit finish and hints of white pepper spice accents. Estate grown fruit, 10 months in new French Oak. One barrel production of 25 cases.
2015 THE SMUGGLER’S SON
Deep ruby color, 2015 The Smuggler’s Son is an expressive fruit-forward, approachable red blend. The nose is marked by cherry and blackberry fruit with notes of vanilla and chocolate.
Concentrated flavors of black cherry, blackberry, and chocolate round out this full-bodied blend with subtle notes of cinnamon, black pepper, and licorice. Light tannic structure with a memorable finish of black forest cake. Approachable at release and will continue to age for the next 3-5 years. 475 case production.
Rated: 87 Wine Enthusiast
86 Wine Spectator
2014 THE SMUGGLER’S SON
2014 The Smuggler’s Son is a Cabernet-forward, smooth, rich, and complex red blend. Elegant ruby in color, with fragrant dark fruit and subtle aromas of vanilla, cocoa, and cinnamon on the nose.
Enticing flavors of black cherry, blueberry, and black raspberry abounds with accents of toasted almond, dark chocolate, light peppercorn spice, and licorice on the finish. A well-balanced wine with smooth tannins and light delicate oak.
An accessible wine that drinks well now and whose complexities and balance will continue to shine over the next 3-5 years. Our blending style maximizes the richness of each varietal in the blend. 2014 The Smuggler’s Son is the seventh award-winning vintage from Virgil’s Vineyard.
All grapes were sourced from Napa and Contra Costa County premium wine country vineyards whose quality fruit has graced outstanding commercial wines in California for years. Aged 18 months in French Oak. Annual wine production was increased to 500 cases with the 2014 vintage.
2013 THE SMUGGLER’S SON
2013 The Smuggler’s Son is a smooth luxurious red wine, a Cabernet lover’s Zinfandel blend. Deep rich ruby in color with aromas of blueberry, vanilla, and cocoa. Dark fruit abounds with vibrant flavors of blackberry, chocolate, and vanilla with an elegant finish of blueberry, white pepper spice and cinnamon, with a hint of licorice. A well-balanced wine with smooth tannins and light delicate oak.
An accessible wine that drinks well now. Our blending style maximizes the richness of each varietal in our vintage. The complexities and balance will continue to shine over the next 3-5 years. 2013 The Smuggler’s Son is the sixth award-winning vintage from Virgil’s Vineyard.
Aged 18 months in French Oak. Annual wine production was increased to 450 cases with the 2013 vintage.
2012 THE SMUGGLER’S SON
2012 The Smuggler’s Son is the fifth award-winning vintage from Virgil’s Vineyard. Deep ruby in color with charismatic aromas of bing cherry, white pepper, black currant, and red raspberry. Flavors of blackberry jam and licorice on the front with rich dark chocolate, cherry, and vanilla on the finish. Stylish subtle spices, honey, and cinnamon compliment the taste profile.
An accessible wine that drinks well now. The complexities and balance will continue to shine over the next 3-5 years. The Smuggler’s Son is handcrafted to be enjoyed with family and friends.
Aged 18 months in French Oak. 2012 The Smuggler’s Son production size was 400 cases.
2011 THE SMUGGLER’S SON
2011 The Smuggler’s Son is the fourth award-winning vintage from Virgil’s Vineyard. Deep ruby in color with aromas of pepper, orange peel, and black cherry. Flavors like a black forest cake of rich dark chocolate, black cherry, and vanilla along with hints of pink peppercorn, blueberry, blackberry, and licorice. An approachable wine now, the complexities and balance will continue to shine over the next 3-5 years.
Aged 18 months in French Oak. Annual wine production was 300 cases, and due to its success, was increased to 400 beginning with the 2012 vintage.
2010 THE SMUGGLER’S SON
2010 The Smuggler’s Son is an elegant, well-balanced, velvety, and expressive red wine. Deep ruby in color with delicious layers of blueberry, vanilla, pepper, and cocoa with a cabernet-like finish. Dark fruit and round subtle tannins complement an approachable wine that can be enjoyed now. Aged in French Oak barrels for 18 months. The complexities and balance will continue to shine over the next 3-5 years.
2009 THE SMUGGLER’S SON
2009 The Smuggler’s Son is the second award-winning vintage from Virgil’s Vineyard. The first vintage in 2008 sold out from the winery within months of release.
A California Red Blend of Old Vine Zinfandel with a backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah from the Napa Valley floor. Petite Sirah and Carignane complete the blend.
A ripe velvet-smooth wine full of richness in its dark fruit and spices. Elegant ruby in color with hints of blackberry jam, chocolate, and licorice flavors. Amarone-like, beautifully balanced with great structure and a long finish of dark cherry notes. Aged in French Oak barrels for 18 months. An accessible wine that drinks well now or over the next 3-5 years.