CRU Monarch Red Blend 2015
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Wilfred
Wong
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Winemaker Notes
This is TRULY a one of a kind wine. The blend consists of two of the more traditional varietals (Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon) and ads an exotic touch of Charbono and Carignan to make this a striking crowd pleaser. The aromatics consist of black currant, black cherry, and tea leaf, with a hint of cassis. The supple tannins and acidity enhance the flavor of blackberries, black cherry, and black pepper. This wine pairs with well with a fine steak but can hold its own with the wildest game in town.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: Mixing Rhône and Bordeaux reds have shown quite successful in the New World. The 2015 CRU Monarch Red Blend is a nifty wine with excellent depth and style. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits richness, yet stays balanced and stately appearing like a classic claret from yesteryear. Its aromas and flavors of red fruit, dust, and oak should pair it deliciously with a grilled Chateaubriand. (Tasted: February 4, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
Family-owned CRU Winery was founded by long-time friends and entrepreneurs Richard Spencer and Mike Conway. As a long-time wine lover, it had always been a dream of Richard’s to own a winery. In 2003, Richard and Mike purchased land, premium barrels and winemaking supplies to make state-of-the-art wines and began renovations on a building in Madera, California which would become the future home of CRU Winery.
Inspired by the French term cru, which traditionally speaks to a vineyard’s prestige and quality, Richard and Mike began to source grapes from some of California’s finest appellations and CRU Winery was born.
Today, CRU Winery crafts award-winning Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Rhône Varietals and Albariño from prestigious vineyards throughout California’s Central Coast.
CRU Winery is honored to be recognized for crafting high-quality wines that consistently receive 90+ point scores and gold medals from publications and competitions including Wine Enthusiast, Wine & Spirits Magazine and the San Francisco Chronicle. CRU’s history of acclaim is a testament to our talented winemaking team and grower partners.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Paso Robles has made a name for itself as a source of supple, powerful, fruit-driven Central Coast wines. But with eleven smaller sub-AVAs, there is actually quite a bit of diversity to be found in this inland portion of California’s Central Coast.
Just east over the Santa Lucia Mountains from the chilly Pacific Ocean, lie the coolest in the region: Adelaida, Templeton Gap and (Paso Robles) Willow Creek Districts, as well as York Mountain AVA and Santa Margarita Ranch. These all experience more ocean fog, wind and precipitation compared to the rest of the Paso sub-appellations. The San Miguel, (Paso Robles) Estrella, (Paso Robles) Geneso, (Paso Robles) Highlands, El Pomar and Creston Districts, along with San Juan Creek, are the hotter, more western appellations of the greater Paso Robles AVA.
This is mostly red wine country, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel standing out as the star performers. Other popular varieties include Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Grenache and Rhône blends, both red and white. There is a fairly uniform tendency here towards wines that are unapologetically bold and opulently fruit-driven, albeit with a surprising amount of acidity thanks to the region’s chilly nighttime temperatures.