Today we share the story of a former Seattle Seahawk quarterback, now making some exquisite Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Rick Mirer was one of the most illustrious high school quarterbacks in Indiana state history, Mirer earned the Academy of Achievement Award as the top high school football player in the country in 1989, as well as the Atlanta Touchdown Club's Bobby Dodd Award as the nation's best high school quarterback. At Notre Dame, Mirer was just as good, winning three bowl games and accounting for more points running and throwing (350) than any other player in Notre Dame history.
The Seattle Seahawks were a very poor team when they drafted Mirer in 1993. Still, Mirer finished his rookie season 5th in the AFC with 274 completions and 2833 yards and was AFC Rookie of the Year by United Press International. Mirer’s remaining seasons were not as successful in Seattle, being set behind an abysmal offensive line. Having gone to those games in the 1980s, all of us in the stands knew that Mirer was really not given a fair chance with such poor protection. Eventually traded to the Chicago Bears in 1997, Mirer continued to play as a backup quarterback until 2004.
Close friends with Drew Bledsoe, and drafted right behind him in 1993, Mirer admits that his friendship with Bledsoe helped lead him to start Mirror Napa Valley. Bledsoe and Mirer even took off-season vacation with their wives to Napa Valley. During the off-season they would also try to stump each other with wines from Port or Brunello di Montalcino. It made sense that both quarterbacks would start their wineries post-football.
While playing for the Raiders and 49ers Rick became even more passionate for wine, being so close to Napa Valley. Finally in 2008 Rick started Mirror Napa Valley, utilizing the winemaking talents of Kirk Venge, formerly of Mumm Napa Valley. Kirk serves as winemaker for several great Napa wineries including B Cellars, Bacio Divino Cellars, Beau Vigne, Entrepreneur Wines, and Hunnicutt Wines. These wines continue to improve. Check out the 2018 Mirror Cabernet ‘Oakville’ Sauvignon (OB, 93) which has great finesse and flavor density. Even better is the 2018 Mirror ‘Howell Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) which shows beautiful stony undertones and massive viscosity. For more about Rick Mirer’s great winery go to https://www.mirrorwine.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Mirror Napa Valley.
2018 Mirror Napa Valley ‘Oakville’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from the 360 Vineyard, the Walther Vineyard and Cimarossa Vineyard, this polished Cabernet Sauvignon is already very nicely evolved. Rich Turkish coffee, dark currant and dark chocolate shaving tones combine with shades of freshly tilled soils, mocha and tar on the palate. The length and viscosity here is really outstanding as this fresh and generous effort has another fifteen years or more to go in the cellar. The terroir here is just outstanding. Drink 2021-2036- 93
2018 Mirror Napa Valley ‘Howell Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The beautiful 2018 Mirror Napa Valley ‘Howell Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon spent 29. Months in 70% new French oak Before bottling. The resultant wine a dense, well-structured, hedonistic monster that really needs some bottle age to tame. Intense espresso grounds and loamy soils combine with stony undertones, graphite, tar and shades of boysenberry cobbler on the palate. Try to delete this beautiful wine from your memory for a few more years, as this has the freshness and stuffing to age gracefully for two decades or more. Drink 2023-2043- 94