2017 Montepulciano-Sangiovese

Dry Creek Valley

Inspired by the great Tuscan wines, our offering melds the elegance and beautiful high-toned fruit of Sangiovese with the brooding dark fruit and rustic charm of Montepulciano while showcasing the dramatic influence of our Dry Creek Valley home.

Winemaking Notes
The goal with this offering is not to copy a Chianti Classico but to accentuate how beautifully this fruit behaves in our region. Handpicking occurred with all the fruit gently destemmed with no crushing and transferred to open-top fermenters or closed-top stainless steel for 3-7 days. Basket pressing was done on all lots with primary and secondary fermentation finishing in barrels. Cooperage is a mix of air-dried French and American oak. It was aged a bit longer than usual given the tannin structure of the 2017 vintage. The end result is like a velvet glove - strong and plush.

The Wine
A mélange of red/dark fruit opens with almond pit, cherry, cherry pit, and Amarone cherry (like in your Manhattan cocktail), and plum with subtle thyme and marjoram. With 22 months in barrel, there's a mild vanilla, cedar, toastiness to this wine. The combination of fruit, earthiness, and a little bit of wood, transports one to the countryside. If we gave this wine a personality, given its sinewy structure and grip, it would be an athlete in a bespoke suit. This wine has a plushness to it making it enjoyable today and, if you're the patient type, will continue to hold well through 2027-2028. It pairs nicely with bold flavors or grilled food. Wild boar would be amazing as would ribeye steak with peppercorn sauce, bison burger (or any high quality meat), or a charcuterie plate that includes aged Parmesan and sliced prosciutto.

5 cases

Technical Notes
APPELLATION Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
VINEYARDS 58% Wine Creek Ranch CCOF-certified, 42% Mountain View Ranch
COMPOSITION 58% Montepulicano, 42% Sangiovese