Winemaker Notes
The Arsonist red blend is Matchbook's left-of-center take on the classic Bordeaux blend. Anchored by Petit Verdot, the 2020 Arsonist has a core of strength and a mouthcoating texture. The bouquet is an elegant mix of black cherry, violets, and leather. The three powerhouse reds deliver weighty flavors of plum, blackberry, chocolate, and licorice with back notes of spice and tobacco. Dusty cocoa, sweet oak and a nice grip of tannins linger in the finish.
This is a big, well-structured wine that pairs well with fatty meats.
Blend: 51% Petit Verdot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Malbec
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
When I present wines at public events, people often ask, "May I have your boldest red?" Well, here it is, at least of late. Comprising 51% Petit Verdot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 24% Malbec, this expression delivers a big punch of fruit and a commensurate wallop of wood.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2020 Matchbook Arsonist Red Blend is a powerful wine. TASTING NOTES: This wine deftly combines aromas and flavors of blackberries and lemon zest. Try it with an oven-baked Porchetta. (Tasted: November 4, 2023, 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.
Mitigated by mild Sacramento River Delta breezes, the Dunnigan Hills appellation is in the northwest portion of Yolo County and has a Mediterranean climate.