Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
One of the gems in the portfolio is the 2015 Habemu, which offers a darker fruited, focused, firm and age-worthy style as well as stunning notes of scorched earth, graphite, and toasted spices. With notable density, medium to full body, building tannins, and a great finish, it’s the purity of fruit and balance that sets this apart. Hide bottles for 3-4 years and enjoy over the following decade or more. This is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, and Tempranillo aged 20 months in barrel.
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.
Known as the ancient homeland of the Latins, today there is a vigorus wine industry beyond the city limits of modern, bustling Rome. The Cesanese grape, full of red berry, spice and rose, is responsible for Lazio’s only true local reds. Lazio’s most famous white wine, called Frascati, is based on the local Malvasia del Lazio and Trebbiano Toscana. A sweet version, called Cannellino di Frascati, is also made.