TASTING NOTES: Dried Cranberry, Baking Spices and Cocoa

THE STORY: Our Love Red is the everyday, anytime California red wine we love to make as a showcase of old heritage vines that produce amazing fruit. This year’s Love Red is more dynamic than in past vintages, with a subtle touch of tannin and pleasant structure to pair with food, while remaining light and fresh. The grapes were harvested early to highlight the fruit and preserve their natural acidity. The Carignan and Valdiguié were naturally fermented as a mix of partially destemmed and whole cluster berries and went through partial carbonic maceration in stainless steel tank. All aged in a mix of neutral French oak barrique and stainless steel.

“Birbet” is a slightly sweet wine made from an aromatic red grape called Brachetto. Lightly sparkling with bright notes of fresh strawberries.

Ercole, whose English translation is Hercules, is only made possible by a generations-old cooperative of local growers in the Monferrato area. Every fall, these men and women cultivate bright and balanced fruit, allowing us to make real wines that are transmitters of time and place.

The place, Monferrato, ranks among the most historic grape-growing areas of Piedmont. For that reason, the company works primarily with Monferrato’s indigenous grape varieties. The fruit from this overlooked area gives us Ercole, a family of wines offering remarkable value.

2022 OLD LOVE comes from almost 10 vineyards planted throughout Oregon: Willamette, Eola-Amity, Columbia Gorge, Southern OR. The sites are focused on sustainable farming practices – dry farming, organic, Biodynamic or minimal additions. Each site is chosen for its unique qualities that it will lend to the final wine.

This wine showcases a delicious blend of ripe stone fruit and lively citrus flavors,
complemented by a subtle hint of sea salt. The palate is bright and herbaceous, and the finish is marked by a pronounced mineral-driven elegance.

The nose on this plum sake made in Wakayama (which is the heart of plum country) is a fabulous collection of plum, honey, citrus, brown sugar, and rock candy aromas. Talk about a drinkable Umeshu! Smooth, round, rich, soft, velvety, and plump, the flow over the palate is incredible with so much feeling and flavor, and yet so light and smooth.