Winemaker Notes
Blend: 90% Carignan, 5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
A beautiful expression of Carignan, the exciting 2015 Field Recordings Tommy Town Vineyard—primarily made from Carignan, with the addition of 5% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon—exhibits bright and lasting tart, red fruit flavors. The wine's perky finish pairs it well with a piquant lemon-accented roast chicken. (Tasted: September 21, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
Responsible for some of the most stunning old vine red wine on the planet, Carignan has an amazing capacity to survive dry, arid climates and still produce lovely, mouthwatering wine. In Spain it goes by the name of Mazuelo or Cariñena and while it may have originated there in the province of Aragón, its popularity lies elsewhere, particularly in Languedoc-Roussillon. Somm Secret—Historically Carignan did not enjoy the respect that it does today. In the mid 20th century, Carignan covered nearly 140,000 ha in Algeria, where it was made into low quality bulk and blending wine to supply mass-market demand.
On the eastern end of the Santa Ynez Valley, the rolling hills of the tiny Happy Canyon AVA produce top quality reds from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and whites from Sauvignon blanc. The region’s low-nutrient soil grows smaller vines and in turn, higher quality wine grapes.