2012 Sonoma County "Three Birds" Red Wine
47% Sonoma Valley Grenache, Rossi Ranch
27% Sonoma Valley Grenache, Teldeschi Ranch
13% Russian River Valley Syrah, Papa’s Block
8% Sonoma Valley Mourvèdre, Rossi Ranch
5% Sonoma Valley Mourvèdre, Bedrock Vineyard
While still dominated by Grenache at 74%, we found that doubling the Syrah component to 13% gave the wine a little more richness and structure. Perhaps all the 2009 and 2010 Châteauneuf-du-Papes I’ve been enjoying lately are influencing my palate? Could be! The remaining 13% is the “third bird of a feather” – Mourvèdre. Aged completely in older, neutral oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note:
Translucent medium ruby-garnet. A gorgeous, perfumed nose of strawberries, red cherries, Asian five-spice, and vanilla (but again, absolutely no new oak on this wine). I could sniff this all night! Quite seamless on entry, red fruits and spice expand across the palate as fine-grained tannins build through a mineral-laden finish. A very sexy wine! Enjoy from release through 2022. (MRO –0 1/18/14)