Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Grenache-based 2020 All Blocks has a pale ruby-purple color and very pretty scents of wild berry preserves, dried flowers, orange peel, licorice and earth. The medium-bodied palate is rounded, juicy and alluring with loads of floral accents and a long, layered finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2020 All Blocks Red Wine is mostly Grenache and reveals a healthy ruby hue as well as juicy red and blue fruits, dried flowers, and herbes de Provence notes. It's a sweetly fruit, medium to full-bodied, fruit-forward effort to drink over the coming 7-8 years or so.
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Wine Spectator
A gutsy blend that retains structure and style, with vibrant black raspberry and blueberry flavors accented by five-spice and espresso. Opens up to broad-shouldered tannins. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now.
California is a winemaking colossus; by itself it is the fourth largest producer in the world. Red wine accounts for 56% of the total by volume, and red grapes 63% of total acres planted. In addition, a number of California red wines are heralded as being among the most prestigious and sought-after wines in the world.
While the state’s incredibly diverse geography, soils and microclimates allow for a wide array of styles, the key factor unifying California red wine is the abundance of sunshine and a long, consistent growing season. This leads to well-developed fruit marked both by impressive ripeness and balancing acidity.
The state’s most famous red wine region, of course, is Napa Valley, where Cabernet Sauvignon reigns as king. But California boasts a wealth of other impressive appellations. The much larger and climatically varied Sonoma County also produces world class California Cabernet, along with wonderful examples of California Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.
Fine versions of Cabernet and Zinfandel hail from Paso Robles as well, which is also gaining fame with Rhone varietals like Syrah and Grenache. As for Pinot Noir, terrific examples can be found from AVA’s such as Anderson Valley, Carneros, Santa Lucia Highlands and Sta. Rita Hills. Wineries in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties are making wonderful Syrahs, and the Sierra Foothill appellations are proving to be an experimental hotbed, with Italian and Spanish varietals employed to great effect.
This of course is a mere sketch. The subject of California red wine is as deep and broad as an ocean, and absolutely a joy to explore!