Winemaker Notes
Blend: 45% Grenache, 32% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 7% Counoise, 6% Cinsault
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2023 Red Blend M5 is fabulous. Bright and punchy, the 2023 impresses with its purity of fruit. Vibrant plum, blueberry, mint, lavender and spice abound. A wine with striking inner perfume and fine balance, the 2023 is just sublime.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Black cherries, blackberries, peppery herbs, smoked earth, and some earthy nuances all emerge from the 2023 M5 Red, a richer, mouth-filling, medium-bodied red based on 45% Grenache, 32% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and the rest Counoise and Cinsault. It has the pure, elegant style of the vintage and is nicely balanced.
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Wine Spectator
Sleek in feel, this shows lovely purity, with lavender and blood orange notes infused with wild strawberry and fresh herb accents. Finishes with fine tannins that linger around the core flavors. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Counoise and Cinsault. Drink now. 5,240 cases made.
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.
With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate Central Coast wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.