Winemaker Notes
The 2018 Lyeth Sonoma County Red Wine opens with a bouquet of fig jam, dried rose petals, and a touch of coca powder. On the palate this rich and silky wine coats your pallet with black cherries and black currant layered upon flavors of sweet tobacco and nutmeg. This is a full-bodied red wine with well-integrated tannin's balanced by dark fruit characteristics and a long lingering finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Lyeth Red Wine drinks smooth and easy. TASTING NOTES: This wine shows warm berries in its aromas and flavors. Enjoy it with roast chicken tossed with arugula and baby spinach. (Tasted: June 6, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
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.