Winemaker Notes
Deep scarlet red with shades of purple. Aromas of black cherry, hot cinnamon stick, slightly gamy with dried Herbs de Provence, dark chocolate nibs and rose petal. A voluptuous mouthfeel that is oozing with red and blue fruits and layered in silky mix of savory and sweet fruit plus minerality that carries the wine to a long finish. This wine is as sensual as they come and yes, it is Pure Yum!
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 #PureYum is a blend of 67% Syrah and 33% Grenache. Deep ruby-purple, it offers Luxardo cherries and sweet blackberry scents layered with lilac and blood orange perfume, with broodier touches of potting soil, olive and tobacco emerging over time. Medium to full-bodied, it's surprisingly lifted and grainy with citrus-laced fruits, juicy freshness and a long finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
This is made from 67% Rockpile-grown Syrah and 33% Grenache from El Diablo Vineyard. Aged in large-format French barrels, it is robust in graphite, garrigue and dark, brooding black fruit. Shocks of white and black pepper complement and enliven the richness
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Jeb Dunnuck
Also all from Sonoma County, the 2017 Pure Yum checks in as 67% Syrah and 33% Grenache that has Cotes du Rhône-like style in its peppery dark fruits, garrigue, and underbrush-like aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied and focused, with present yet ripe tannins, it’s a fruit-loaded yet structured, balanced wine from Cohn to enjoy over the coming 5-7 years or so.
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Wine Spectator
Zesty and plump, with bold fruit, offering lively raspberry, cracked pepper and smoky anise flavors that finish with polished tannins. Syrah and Grenache. Drink now through 2027.
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.
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.