Alexander Valley · USA
2021 Aperture Cellars Collage Proprietary Red
Aperture's 2021 Alexander Valley red blend: cassis, graphite, and floral lift from a vintage built on precision and a small crop — just opened for business.
- Varietal
- Red Blend
- Region
- Alexander Valley
- Vintage
- 2021
Drinking Window
In 2026: Approaching PeakDrinkable, but best years are ahead. Peak begins 2030.
Right now: In 2026, the Collage Proprietary Red has just entered its drinking window in early phase, with peak conditions projected from 2030 through 2046 — a remarkable 16-year peak window that reflects the 2021 vintage's exceptional aging architecture and Aperture's commitment to long-arc wines. The wine is accessible now for collectors who want to explore the vintage's signature precision and floral lift at their most primary; the deep cassis and graphite are vivid and the focused tannins are just beginning to soften. Holding through 2030 will add integration and bring the polished leather and secondary complexity forward. The decade ahead from peak is the real prize.
Tasting Note
Deep ruby with a luminous, precise appearance that sets the tone for what follows. On the nose: cassis at the core, with graphite minerality and polished leather emerging behind, framed by a lifted floral perfume that is the 2021 vintage's signature. The palate is full-bodied but seamless — concentrated without heaviness — with focused tannins that provide structure without austerity. The mid-palate shows deep, refined fruit concentration, and the long finish carries the graphite and cassis thread to a close that invites continued attention. A wine of genuine structural ambition.
About Aperture Cellars
Aperture Cellars was founded in 2009 by winemaker Jesse Katz, who trained at some of California's and France's most respected cellars before launching a label focused on Bordeaux-variety wines from cool-climate Alexander Valley and Sonoma sites. The Collage Proprietary Red is Aperture's flagship blend — a multi-variety composition assembled to express the tension and purity of old-world Bordeaux structure alongside the concentration and depth of Alexander Valley fruit. Katz uses extended maceration and careful new-oak calibration based on vintage character, building wines designed for 20 or more years of development.
Food Pairings
Dry-aged prime rib with jus and bone marrow gratin
The wine's deep cassis concentration and focused tannins are calibrated for the fat and richness of dry-aged beef, with the graphite minerality providing the structural counterpoint the dish requires.
Braised lamb shoulder with preserved lemon and olives
The floral lift and polished leather of this 2021 blend align with the aromatic complexity of preserved lemon and olive, while the focused tannins cut through the richness of slow-braised lamb.
Aged farmhouse cheddar with charcuterie and Medjool dates
The wine's long, refined finish and cassis depth find balance in the salt of aged cheddar and the sweetness of Medjool dates, with the charcuterie providing the protein the tannins need to relax.
Service & Cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 62-65F (17-18C)
- Decanting
- Decant 1-1.5 hours in 2026. The wine is in early window and the focused tannin structure benefits from significant airing to open the floral, graphite, and leather aromatic complexity. By peak in 2030, 45-60 minutes should suffice. This wine always shows better with aeration.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.
Frequently Asked
When should I drink the 2021 Aperture Collage Proprietary Red?
The wine entered its drinking window in 2026, so it is accessible now in its early phase. For peak expression, hold until 2030 when the tannins will be fully resolved and the secondary leather and graphite complexity will be more prominent. The window runs through 2046, with hard decline after 2056 — you have three decades of quality drinking ahead from today.
Why is the 2021 Napa vintage so highly regarded?
Wine Spectator rated 2021 Classic at 97 points. The year started with a low crop from stressed 2020 vines, requiring further thinning to maintain balance. The result was tiny yields combined with a growing season without damaging heat spikes and a cool, even August — conditions that produced wines of exceptional precision and floral lift. Wine Spectator called it a vintage that cements a new style in Napa.
What grapes are in the Collage Proprietary Red?
The Collage is a proprietary Bordeaux-variety blend assembled by Jesse Katz to express the tension and purity of Alexander Valley fruit. The specific blend composition varies by vintage based on what best expresses the year's character — a traditional Bordeaux-style approach that prioritizes terroir and vintage expression over formula.
How should I decant this wine?
In 2026 when the wine is in early window, plan on 1 to 1.5 hours of decanting. The focused tannin structure and the aromatic complexity of the floral, graphite, and leather notes all benefit from significant oxygen exposure. By peak in 2030, 45 to 60 minutes should suffice. Always decant this wine — it will not show at its best from the bottle without aeration.
How does the Collage compare to Aperture's other wines?
The Collage Proprietary Red is Aperture's flagship blend — above the estate Cabernet and Del Rio Vineyard single-varietal wines in terms of ambition and cellaring arc. It is designed for the longest aging trajectory in the portfolio and draws on the broadest selection of Aperture's best barrels from the vintage.
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