The Messenger Telegram Red Blend
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A dramatic, full-flavored and full-bodied red from a small, adventurous Napa-based winery. It offers cedar and tobacco aromas, fresh dark cherry flavors, and good depth and concentration. Strong and generous, this wine is looking to have a good time with you at the dinner table. The blend includes 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, plus Merlot, Montepulciano, Malbec and
Matt Stone's family founded Napa valley icon, Sterling Vineyards in 1964. As a young man, Matt earned his first paycheck from the winery and helped his father with many aspects of vineyard and winery life. Keeping his nose close to the wine industry, Matt moved to France and took up residency with the Edmund Rothschild family (Lafite side) where he was actually present for the inaugural harvest of their Chateau Clarke in Medoc. After his stint with the Rothschild's, he honed his sales skills as a sugar trader in Paris and New York. In 2000 he returned to Napa Valley with his wife and 3 children, a move that virtually ensured his re-entry into the wine business.
Kat, Rob and Matt, met at the school their children attended in Napa and a business partnership was formed in 2005.
The Messenger Wines are an exploration of flavor born of creativity and innovation. As such, they are multi-vintage, multi-varietal and multi-vineyard. In the same way a message is crafted from a thousand stories, we craft wine from a thousand possible blends. The Messenger encourages you to enjoy a wine for what it is, rather than what you think it should be.
California is a winemaking colossus; by itself it is the fourth largest producer in the world. Red wine accounts for 56% of the total by volume, and red grapes 63% of total acres planted. In addition, a number of California red wines are heralded as being among the most prestigious and sought-after wines in the world.
While the state’s incredibly diverse geography, soils and microclimates allow for a wide array of styles, the key factor unifying California red wine is the abundance of sunshine and a long, consistent growing season. This leads to well-developed fruit marked both by impressive ripeness and balancing acidity.
The state’s most famous red wine region, of course, is Napa Valley, where Cabernet Sauvignon reigns as king. But California boasts a wealth of other impressive appellations. The much larger and climatically varied Sonoma County also produces world class California Cabernet, along with wonderful examples of California Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.
Fine versions of Cabernet and Zinfandel hail from Paso Robles as well, which is also gaining fame with Rhone varietals like Syrah and Grenache. As for Pinot Noir, terrific examples can be found from AVA’s such as Anderson Valley, Carneros, Santa Lucia Highlands and Sta. Rita Hills. Wineries in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties are making wonderful Syrahs, and the Sierra Foothill appellations are proving to be an experimental hotbed, with Italian and Spanish varietals employed to great effect.
This of course is a mere sketch. The subject of California red wine is as deep and broad as an ocean, and absolutely a joy to explore!