Winemaker Notes
Siena reflects Ferrari-Carano's Italian heritage by combining Sangiovese, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon into an easy-sipping and multi-dimensional blend. Select lots of grapes were chosen from vineyards in Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys to create the beautifully balanced and medium-bodied 2004 Siena. Siena is supple and ripe with heady fruit aromas of cherry cola and sweet berries complemented by crème caramel and creamy oak spice. Juicy cherry and raspberry jam flavors are followed by a layered finish of caramel and butterscotch. Excellent red fruit vitality is met by good acidity, round, gentle tannins and a lingering finish.
Among Italy's elite red grape varieties, Sangiovese has the perfect intersection of bright red fruit and savory earthiness and is responsible for the best red wines of Tuscany. While it is best known as the chief component of Chianti, it is also the main grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and reaches the height of its power and intensity in the complex, long-lived Brunello di Montalcino. Somm Secret—Sangiovese doubles under the alias, Nielluccio, on the French island of Corsica where it produces distinctly floral and refreshing reds and rosés.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.