Winemaker Notes
Inspired by the Southern French reds of sommelier cult producer, Maxime Magnon, and Cru Beaujolais from the Gang of Four, our Carignan is made with partial carbonic maceration, making for a juicy-fruited, crushable red that we like to serve chilled or at cellar temperature. Sourced from the Camp Four vineyard, we picked Carignan on three dates, all at between 20.7 and 22.2 brix for a light-bodied and low alcohol, easy-drinking fresh red.
Strawberries, cranberries, and baking spices, with herbaceous flavors of umami and sandalwood. A perfect match for cured meats, dark leafy greens, and of course the ubiquitous burger or pizza night!
Responsible for some of the most stunning old vine red wine on the planet, Carignan has an amazing capacity to survive dry, arid climates and still produce lovely, mouthwatering wine. In Spain it goes by the name of Mazuelo or Cariñena and while it may have originated there in the province of Aragón, its popularity lies elsewhere, particularly in Languedoc-Roussillon. Somm Secret—Historically Carignan did not enjoy the respect that it does today. In the mid 20th century, Carignan covered nearly 140,000 ha in Algeria, where it was made into low quality bulk and blending wine to supply mass-market demand.
Ranging from cool and foggy in the west to warm and dry in the east, the Santa Ynez Valley is a climatically diverse growing area. The most expansive AVA within the larger Santa Barbara County region, Santa Ynez is also home to a wide variety of soil types and geographical features. The appellation is further divided into four distinct sub-AVAs—Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon—each with its own defining characteristics.
A wide selection of grapes is planted here—more than sixty different varieties, and counting. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate in the chilly west, while Zinfandel, Rhône blends, and Bordeaux blends rule the arid east. Syrah is successful at both ends of the valley, with a lean and peppery, Old-World sensibility closer to the coast and lush berry fruit further inland.