Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: As a certifiable "wine geek," I am a big fan of Carignan. The 2014 Lioco Indica the kind of red wine that I enjoy drinking. TASTING NOTES: This wine is brisk, bright, and alive. Its aromas and flavors of red fruit and brisk minerality would pair it well with raw salmon sashimi with the soy sauce. (Tasted: March 17, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
Beyond the usual suspects, there are hundreds of red grape varieties grown throughout the world. Some are indigenous specialties capable of producing excellent single varietal wines, while others are better suited for use as blending grapes. Each has its own distinct viticultural characteristics, as well as aroma and flavor profiles, offering much to be discovered by the curious wine lover. In particular, Portugal and Italy are known for having a multitude of unique varieties but they can really be found in any region.
A large and diverse appellation within California’s North Coast AVA, Mendocino is home to several smaller sub-regions—most notably the Anderson Valley. This scenic region, with rolling hills covered in redwood forests as well as vineyards, is one of the world’s top producers of certified organically-grown grapes. Due to wide geographical and climatic variation, a vast array of wine styles can be found here.