High limestone content affects the mouthfeel but defies astringency through blackberry gelée and a creamy undertone. Austere and sturdy, yet seamless across the palate, with a parade of black olive, licorice, and graphite. Utmost elegance is achieved, and blue floral tones offer the path to a long finish.
A partnership between Paul Hobbs and Bertrand Gabriel Vigouroux, this is an exceptional red. Attached to a mineral base are young, dusty violets, graced with an inky, concentrated tone – almost herbal – with added notes of fennel and oregano. Boysenberry flavors black strap molasses, sweetening, but not altering, the verve of the wine’s backbone.
A blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Carignan and 5% Cinsault, this offers ripe fruit aromas and flavors intertwined with earthy, leathery accents. Nearly full-bodied and fully mature, it may seem a bit rustic to some tasters, but will endear itself to lovers of Old World wines crafted in a Mediterranean style.
A blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Carignan, this is more flavorful and complex than many Rhône wines costing considerably more. Truly full-bodied but neither over ripened, oaked, or extracted, this is very impactful on the palate without being overbearing. Fruit notes recalling dark berries and cherries are accented with undertones of spices and wild herbs, and are firmed by abundant but fine-grained tannins. Very impressive.
Tasting soil and barely ripened cherries, this wine reveals an old-world claim to acidity and texture. Rose petals and hibiscus notes add layers to bright red fruit tones. Juicy, with a spiced cedar-cinnamon finish.
This single-vineyard Pinot Noir exhibits brilliant gem tones, highlighted by iron-kissed pomegranate, clove, and sassafras. Taste the earth, steeped in Rooibos tea and tomato broth. Fascinating flavors abound.
Despite its aggressive name, this is not a “bruiser” of an Argentine Malbec but rather a tasteful charmer. Medium-bodied, it features mostly red toned fruit notes with spicy accents, modest alcohol, fresh acidity, and fine-grained tannins. Unlike many category counterparts that impress initially but prove tiring to drink, this is enduringly inviting and quite versatile with foods of differing robustness levels.
Concentrated berries unite in harmony along a path of garrigue and white-peppered cherry cola. Sumptuous and deep, with a juicy, high-toned acidity that continues to refresh with each sip. Exotic spices linger on the long finish, punctuated by violets and toasty oak. Kudos to the family’s sixth generation of the Duttons for farming and winemaking.