Winemaker Notes
Blend: 47% Mourvèdre, 42% Grenache, 9% Cinsault, 2% Syrah
Professional Ratings
-
Wine & Spirits
Age has mellowed this blend of grenache, syrah, mourvedre and cinsaut into a lush, burnished richness, layering scents of anise, black pepper, root beer and black cherry. Its flavors are generous but dusted with chaparral-scented tannins that gives the wine its grip and its frame.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Tart red fruit and dark red flower aromas meet with an earthy funk on the nose of this blend of 47% Mourvèdre, 42% Grenache, 9% Cinsault and 2% Syrah. The palate is tarry and funky with savory cured meat flavors, as a dark berry element holds the core together.
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.
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.