95 Points - Christopher Sawyer, "Sommelier to the Stars"
A masterful, bold, swaggering blend of Grenache, Syrah & Mourvèdre (GSM) that's smoother than a Marvin Gaye chorus and sexier than a fine leather jacket at a dive bar. Their 2018 and 2019 vintages scored a whopping 95 POINTS from Bonfort’s Wine & Spirits Journal, DrinkMe Magazine, and the well respected, Christopher Sawyer because apparently critics enjoy drinking dangerously, too.
Aged 37 months in French oak barrels. Bottled unfiltered, preserving its purity and character. Approachable now, and has plenty of depth, structure, and complexity to lay down for another 3-5 years.
It's bold fruit flavors and spice notes complement smoky, savory flavors of grilled or barbecued meats like beef, lamb, pork, and sausage.
Winemaking
Crafted with care and commitment to sustainability, each grape is meticulously selected by hand, ensuring only the finest fruit makes its way into the bottle. 28% Grenache brings fruit and acidity to the table with flavors of raspberry, strawberry, licorice and spice. 44% Syrah adds color, spice, blueberry, blackberry, plum, black olive, mineral, and tannin to the party. 28% Mouvedre rounds it all out with blackberry, pomegranate, pepper, violets, clove, smoke with tannin and structure.
Vineyard
Grown in the rolling, oak studded hills of Placer County and El Dorado Hills, the vineyards are located 600 to 1,000 feet above sea-level, 100 miles east of San Francisco. The soils consist of crushed granite, volcanic rock and sandy loam, making them well-drained and ideal for growing grapes. The vineyards receive very little artificial irrigation to help stress the vines, resulting in the wines having more complex and intense flavors.
Vintage
The 2019 Vintage saw ideal conditions in the Sierra Foothills AVA, resulting in grapes of exceptional quality. Harvested at an average Brix of 24 to 25, with a pH of 3.6 and total acidity of 6.5 g/L, these grapes reached optimal ripeness.
VINTAGE: 2019
VARIETAL: 28% Grenache, 44% Syrah, 28% Mourvèdre
APPELLATION: Sierra Foothills
AGING: 37 months in French Oak barrels
pH: 3.6
TA: 6.5 g/L
FILTRATION: Unfiltered
ALCOHOL: 14.1%
Temperature Control Shipping
All Central, Midwest & Eastern orders ship via temp control truck.
96 Points
Ruby-plum core with a light purple rim in the glass, with aromas of dark cherry, plum, spicy cola and black tea waft from the glass. The palate delivers all of that and then some, adding layers of fig jam, white peppercorn and baking spice. Firm juicy tannins and balanced acidity round it out.
99 Point Vintage
Bold and luxurious, rich and forward with a deep garnet-purple color, it strides confidently out of the glass with subtle hints of herbs de Provence, lavender, into black fruit with notes of crushed blueberries, fresh blackberry, warm cassis, tobacco and barrel spices galore.
94 Points
Deep garnet-purple in color and strides confidently out of the glass with notes of crushed blueberries, ripe blackberry, and warm cassis with hints of cherry, black olive, currant and a touch of black pepper.
94 Points
Blueberry, currant and sweet spice on the nose, with satiny layers of marionberry, and fresh macerated blackberries, surrounding a core of leather, tobacco leaf, sandalwood, and tobacco. Medium to full bodied, it's polished and creamy with nice weight on the mid palate.
94 Points
Deep garnet in color from the ripe 2018 vintage, with open aromas of lush fruit – plum, blackberry, and cherry, and notes of cedar, vanilla, and white pepper. Across the palate it's quite seamless and silky, rich and concentrated. The fruit flavors are bold and vibrant. Mouth-filling with smooth tannins, great texture and a long delicious finish.
Luxurious & Delicious...
Aromas of rich cherry, black currant, dark plums, with hints of lightly toasted vanilla, mint and crushed slate. The concentrated flavors further integrate with blackberries, tobacco, anise and earthiness with a balanced oak profile, layered palette, leaving you with its delightful finish.
94 Points
Rich and full-bodied and graced with elegant structure. Nuanced flavors of blackberries and ripe cherries that coat the palate with luscious ripeness that keeps on giving. A subtle waft of roasted coffee beans and lightly toasted almonds entwine with raspberry in a luxurious finish.
Chewy & Ripe!
Dark purplish-black with aromas of ripe black plums, bacon, blackberry jam, and black tea. Dense, chewy and ripe across the palate with a nice mid-palate texture and weight. Rich, structured, and complex, with a long evolving finish.
Gold Medal
Generously packed with exotic cassis, black cherry, cola and plum flavors knitted together in a creamy, velvety texture with nice layering, finishing with delightful notes of spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
92 Points
Aromas of blackberry, dried fig, black cherry, blackberry coulis, toasted vanilla, and a hint of cigar box. The palate offers rich and velvety tannins, dark chocolate-covered cherries, black plum, mixed berry pie and toasted walnut. Long and expressive with loads of flavor.
93 Points
Aromas of fresh peach, Asian pear, citrus, and honeycomb delight your senses. Flavors are just as complex with hints of Madagascar vanilla followed by fresh lemon, green apple, wildflower honey, stone fruit, and a touch of lavender. Its rich, dense texture is balanced by its juicy acidity, leading to a long satisfying finish.
94 Points
Aromas of cocoa mingle with notes of cassis, black cherry, blackberry coulis, graphite, toasted vanilla, and a hint of cedar. The palate is harmonious as the richness of barrel spice melds seamlessly with juicy plum, blackberry and licorice flavors. An incredibly polished texture, even at a young age. Long and expressive with loads of flavor.
92 Points
Aromas and robust flavors of dark cherry, blackberries, mocha, espresso and hints of black pepper. Incredibly balanced with a smooth mouthfeel and body against a backdrop of structured tannins. The wine unfolds with notes of clove and dried herbs, ending with a long rich finish.
Highly Recommended
Aromas of blackberry, rose hip, dried cranberries and hints of boysenberry followed by notes of violets and crushed spices. The palate opens with a dense and lush tannin structure supported by flavors of red berry fruit, and a long flavorful vanilla finish.
92 Points
Rich, bold & spicy. Deep garnet colored in the glass. The nose gives loads of blackberry, plum, fresh raspberry and peppery aromas, while the palate delivers juicy berry compote, cassis, caramel and black pepper flavors before a rich, tannic finish. Four to five years in the cellar will round this out nicely.
Rich & Luxurious!
Beautiful ruby color and opens with aromas of bright red plum and raspberry, cassis, and a touch of mint. The tannins are soft yet structured, and complemented by vibrant acidity, with hints of clove and baking spice from the oak aging. The wine ends with a long, smooth finish and lingering intensity encouraging you to enjoy another juicy sip.
