Winemaker Notes
Enkidu is always seeking to produce complex wines. This Humbaba, while still rich and structured, is less about power and more about the complexity. Initial notes of leather and blackberry pie are complemented with wild cherry, iron, mocha chocolate, garrique, and sassafras.
Enjoy this Humbaba with warm dishes with Middle Eastern/North African spices, especially meats.
Blend: 50% Petite Sirah, 50% Syrah
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Humbaba Rhone Blend is equal parts Syrah and Petit Sirah and pours a saturated black/purple color. It’s forward in the glass with savory aromas of toasted black peppercorn, black olive, scorched earth, and black plum. Full-bodied and persistent, with ripe tannins, it expands on the palate and retains good freshness of ripe concentration through the clean, earthy finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
This aromatic and spicy blend of Syrah and Petite Sirah gives loads of blackberry, boysenberry and star anise aromas on the nose. The fully saturated palate brings more juicy berry fruit, energetic acidity and plush tannin in equal measure.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Bordered by Napa and Sonoma Valleys to the north and the Golden gate Bridge to the south, most of the region’s vineyards are planted on Marin County’s western side where they are exposed to the moist and cold air of the Pacific Ocean. Varieties like Pinot noir and Chardonnay do well here.