Winemaker Notes
Blend: 68% Grenache, 28% Syrah, 4% Roussanne, 2% Viognier
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A juicy red with plummy, berry and hints of dark chocolate on the nose and palate. Full and savory. Lovely texture. Made from 68% Grenache, 28% Syrah, 4% Roussanne, and 2% Viognier.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2007 Red Wine Las Mujeres is 68% Grenache, 26% Syrah, 4% Roussanne and 2% Viognier. It spent 40 months in French oak barrels prior to being bottled in February 2010. Las Mujeres is a pretty, soft wine laced with red fruit, spices, tobacco and mint. This is a relatively understated wine from this estate. Some of the more sensual, floral and spiced notes take on greater prominence as the wine sits in the glass. The balance and sense of proportion are both first rate.
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Wine Spectator
An unusual blend of Grenache and Syrah, with a splash of Roussanne and Viognier, this wine is massively rich in cherry and blackberry pie, caramelized oak, vanilla and cinnamon spice flavors. The addition of those few drops of white varieties brings brisk acidity and a tang of citrus and flowers.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
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.