Post & Vine “Old Vine Field Blend” 2016
60ish year old vine field blend of Petite Sirah (30%), Carignane (29%), Zinfandel (25%), and Grenache (16%) from Redwood Valley’s “Testa Vineyard.” The fresh, snappy red and blue fruits, peppercorn spice, potpourri and crushed Provence herbs make for an intense yet restrained red wine that is very versatile at the dinner table. At 14.2% alcohol, […]
Trinafour Rosso Misto 2017
Old vine Grenache and Carignane from Mendocino’s Redwood Valley are married in this bright, intense, food-friendly red. I smell and taste red raspberries, cranberries, wild cherries, pomegranate, white pepper and fennel frond. Reminds me of a top-notch Corbières or other such Southern France red wines with great character and no oak. I’m a big fan […]
AERENA Rosé 2018
Provence-style Rosé by recipe: 1/2 Mourvèdre, 1/2 Carignane. Grapes pressed off. Stylistically, it straddles France and California. Reddish hue, raspberry/strawberry smells and flavors along with some black pepper, mandarine orange and pink roses. Fermented dry to a modest 12.9% alcohol, making for a pretty, berry-laden Rosé with ample acidity and spice. This is a Rosé […]
FROG’S LEAP Pink Wine 2018
Made from 70+ year old vine Carignane and 12% Valdiguie, Frog’s Leap “La Grenouille Rougante” (The Flying Frog) is an intentional rosé, i.e. made like a white wine: grapes pressed off with juice barely affected by the red skins. The result is a style of rosé that Frog’s Leap makes as well as anyone in […]
Frog’s Leap Rosé 2017
Stalwart Napa winery gets Carignane (92%) and Valdiguie (8%) to make their purposeful Rosé. “Provencal style,” in the words of Frog’s Leap founder, owner and co-winemaker John Williams. This has a light orange/brick red color then gentle aromas of lavender, strawberry, thyme, orange tea and crushed white peppercorns. Taste is more of the same, falling […]
SUBJECT TO CHANGE Carbonic Red Wine “Poor Ranch” 2017
85% Carignane, 15% Syrah from 65 year old, organic vineyard outside of Hopland, southeast Mendocino County. “Nouveau Style” meaning 100% carbonic maceration, bottled in December (a little later than seasonal Nouveau). On the “serious side” for a young, all-carbonic wine, get allspice/clove spiced sweet plums, fresh raspberries, cracked pepper, musk and dry-aged beefsteak. Light as […]
PLANETES de VIN Priorat 2013
50-50 Garnatxes and Carinyenes (Catalan for Grenache and Carignane) aged “en amfora.” (Amphora-clay vessels. Use of Amphoras to hold wine date back to Roman times). The mountainous Priorat region in Catalonia is one of the world’s special places to make strong red wines. This fruit-driven wine smells and tastes of strawberry preserves, raspberry sauce, dried […]
TRINAFOUR “Rosso Misto” 2014
Only 2 barrels (very neutral barrels) of this Languedoc, Southern French-esque Carignane/Grenache blend made from 75 year old, dry farmed, head-pruned vines. Smell and taste fresh pomegranate, dark wild plums, black pepper, licorice, herbs de Provence and dried violets. It’s medium tannins, medium/high acidity and zero barrel flavor point to its “Food Wine” placement. Grilled […]
