Winemaker Notes
An incredible, saturated red / purple color stains the glass. Candied red and black fruits and savory notes are inter- twined with warm cinnamon stick and mission fig. The palate is more focused on a crunchy cranberry, fig and dark chocolate cover blood orange. A truly sensational experience!
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Broken Compass is all Carignan (120-year-old vines) sourced from the Russian River Valley aged 18 months in neutral oak. Its deep purple color is followed by a classic Carignan nose (I'd unquestionably have guessed Languedoc if tasted blind) of fresh plums, crushed rocks, graphite, and beetroot. Elegant, medium-bodied, and surprisingly fresh, it has good acidity (which is common with the variety), ripe tannins, and a good finish. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years.
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Wine Enthusiast
From a well-known old-vine site for Zinfandel, this wine shows the prowess of other varieties within its ground. Thick, leathery and tart, it retains plenty of acidity within a core of full-powered earth and stems. The richness is complemented by seasonings of white and black pepper.
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.
A standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.