Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2022 Christo is bold and explosive in the glass. A rush of blackberry, dried herbs, menthol, licorice, chocolate, lavender and scorched earth opens first. This ample, generous Syrah-based red has so much to offer. Its potent, structured personality will be a fine companion to equally hearty dishes at the dinner table. There's a bit of brawn on the finish, but that works well within this style.
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Wine Enthusiast
This little-known wine-growing region, South of Mendocino, has only one winery. They have been in operation since 1978. It is structured bottling of Syrah, Grenache, Petite Sirah, and a splash of Viognier as a nod to the Northern Rhône of France. Their region gets the warm days, but it has cooler temperatures later in the day, creating structured, high-toned, red wines driven with red fruits, savory herbs, and silky tannins with grit. Aerate and enjoy now, or you can cellar until 2030.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Named for Marietta’s founder and longtime winemaker, the 2022 Christo blends 67% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 8% Petite Sirah, and 3% Viognier, his son Scot building the wine in his dad’s favorite style, balanced and earthy, yet plenty generous in velvety mouthfeel and hedonistic. The Syrah and Viognier are co-fermented. It offers the earthiness of Syrah, with the strawberry goodness of Grenache, and the tannic intensity of Petite Sirah, full-bodied, concentrated, and ready to be enjoyed over the next 10-12 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Christo is composed of 67% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 8% Petite Sirah and 3% Viognier. It bursts from the glass with scents of powdered sugar, tar, blackcurrant and blueberry, and it gives up finer nuances of pepper and garrigue as it opens in the glass. The medium-bodied palate is just as generous, delivering supple, juicy layers of berry pie and spice, and it has a long, floral finish. It will benefit from a few years in the cellar.
Rating: 91+
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.
Reaching up California's coastline and into its valleys north of San Francisco, the North Coast AVA includes six counties: Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake. While Napa and Sonoma enjoy most of the glory, the rest produce no shortage of quality wines in an intriguing and diverse range of styles.
Climbing up the state's rugged coastline, the chilly Marin County, just above the City and most of Sonoma County, as well as Mendocino County on the far north end of the North Coast successfully grow cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and in some spots, Riesling. Inland Lake County, on the other hand, is considerably warmer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc produce some impressive wines with affordable price tags.