Former Seattle Seahawk quarterback Rick Mirer was always drawn to Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Mirer is easily one of the most illustrious high school quarterbacks in Indiana state history, and was awarded 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.
He came to the NFL joining a very poor Seattle Seahawks team. Yet 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.
Intimate 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. I was floored by the new 2020 Mirror ‘Petaluma Gap’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which has amazing underlying freshness and a smooth texture. Wait for the incredible finish! Even better is the sinfully good 2019 Mirror Cabernet ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is the finest wine I have tasted from this house. This edition is very concentrated and framed with refined tannins and wonderfully bright acidity. For more about Rick Mirer’s great winery go to https://www.mirrorwine.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Mirror Napa Valley.
2020 Mirror ‘Petaluma Gap, Sonoma County’ Chardonnay- Sourced from the Calesa Vineyard, this seriously good 2020 Chardonnay offers a smooth texture with ripe apricot, honeydew melon, lemon zest dusted brioche and copious baking spices on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, with no rough edges, this is refined and very concentrated Chardonnay that is best served on the warmer side. Drink 2022-2030- 93
2019 Mirror ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from this famed high-elevation site, the 2019 ‘Stagecoach Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon was stored in 70% new French oak barrels for 29 months prior to bottling. A whiff of volcanic soils follows anise, creme de violette and Turkish coffee notes that all impress on the nose. The palate is dark, inky and simply sumptuous in terms of weightlessness and overall texture. Concentrated black and blue fruits parade with coffee ground dusted bitter chocolate and loamy soils on the palate. A mind-bending effort, this will easily live on for two decades. Drink 2022-2040- 95
2019 Mirror ‘Oakville’ Cabernet Sauvignon-The outstanding 2019 Mirror ‘Oakville’ Cabernet Sauvignon was stored for 29 months in 70% new French oak before bottling. Aromatically very expressive, this offers sweet black plum with exotic spices alongside creme de cassis notes on the nose. The palate is fresh and shows a bright underlying acidity alongside concentred black and blue fruits, with freshly tilled soils and allspice notes. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 93