Winemaker Notes
22 Pirates is a global adventure in a bottle, traveling the Rhone region in France to California’s Central Coast. Famous for producing award-winning wines, the Rhone Region celebrates 22 different varieties of grapes. Several pioneers brought Rhone grapes to California, where they flourished. Clos LaChance developed the 22 Pirates Brand to represents one pirate for each of the Rhone varieties. 22 Pirates is exciting Red Rhone Blend that will stay the course – vintage to vintage.
The 2020 Red Blend has aromas of mixed berries, black cherries and tobacco. Medium acid and tannin while full-bodied, it offers hints of toffee, caramel, vanilla and cola on the palate.
Try with meatloaf, cheeseburgers, BBQ and smoked meats.
Blend: 23% Syrah, 23% Grenache, 17% Petite Sirah, 17% Zinfandel, 13% Alicante Bouschet, 7% Cinsault
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Plush and luxurious, this blend of red Rhône varieties overdelivers for the price, washing over the mouth with walnut and melting dark chocolate. Dark plum and pencil shavings add depth to blue-floral tonality on the mid-palate.
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!