We are incredibly excited to release our first ever bottling of Carignane from the 125-year-old Evangelho Vineyard in Contra Costa County. Though Carignane is typically blended with our Zinfandel, Mike Dashe saw (and tasted) something special in these vines and decided to bottle it on its own. With flavors bursting of cassis, spice, and minerals, we are overjoyed to welcome the 2014 Carignane to “the Wild Child” family!

HISTORY

Planted in 1890 and growing in deep sandy soil--essentially a vineyard on sand dunes--on the Sacramento River Delta, these are some of the most beautiful, old, gnarled Carignane vines we've ever seen.

The vines are planted on their own roots and since the vineyard is dry-farmed, the roots can extend down more than 40 feet to the water table below. The grapes produce a dark, vibrant wine that shows off how complex a wine the varietal can make. 

PRODUCTION

This is always the earliest vineyard we harvest each year, and this year was no exception : we harvested on August 13th. 

We hand-sorted the grapes on a conveyor belt on the way to the destemmer to eliminate any imperfect fruit. The crushed grapes were then fermented using only the natural yeast population on the surface of the grapes (rather than commercial dried yeasts) to conduct the fermentation. At dryness, the wine was gently pressed in a membrane press and pumped into traditional 60-gallon oak barrels.

The wine was aged for 8 months in one-year or older French oak barrels, to keep the vibrancy of the fruit

Tasting Notes:

Vibrant red fruit including pomegranate, black cherry, wild strawberry, as well as floral notes of rose and violets. Lush, velvety mouthfeel balanced by vibrant crisp acidity. Long, sweet finish of red fruits and spice.