Winemaker Notes
Vibrant purple and blue fruits with a juicy and intense aroma. Acai berry, dragon fruit, blueberry confit and Mexican hibiscus tea all come together, surrounded by violet flowers, lilies and opulent perfume. Luscious and rich but with a beautiful tension. Finishes very clean with a bright fresh fruit note of crunchy black currants and sloe berries. Serving refrigerator cold will intensify the snappiness of the fruit.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Seductive notes of dark cherries, blueberries and violets, as well as cassis. Full body with fine tannins. There’s a violet-like note to the juicy, pulpy blue fruit on the palate. Flavorful finish with excellent length.
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Jeb Dunnuck
All Valdiguie (a grape also known as Gros Auxerroisand and once used extensively in Languedoc-Roussillon), the 2021 Valdiguie French Camp Vineyard reveals a deep ruby/plum-hue as well as exotic aromatics of plums, candied blackberries, peppery herbs, and exotic spices. It's medium to full-bodied and has beautiful fruit, fine tannins, and a great finish.
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Tasting Panel
This rustic wine takes the taster on a foray into the ideal floral profile. Heather, underbrush, violets, and an earthy quality persist, seasoned with Italian herbs. Wild strawberry paves the way for the peppered finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
This is a super ripe and bold take on this grape, which is often treated in much lighter ways. Dark in the glass, the nose offers tart blackberry aromas while the palate is loaded with star anise, licorice and chocolate spices that coat the elderberry jam flavors.
Native to Southwest France, Valdiguié also maintains a fairly substantial history in California. Given its high-yielding capacity, Valdiguié became very popular during the Prohibition. Until 1980, Californians called it Napa Gamay because of its similarities to Gamay as a finished wine. But in that year, a French ampelographer, Pierre Galet correctly identified it as Valdiguié—not Gamay. Today it still grows in pockets of respected appellations throughout the state. Somm Secret—In France it is also called Gros Auxerrois.
