16 Bordeaux-style pink varietals & blends

The Miller household, based mostly in New Orleans, discovered wine-growing bliss in Dry Creek Valley and purchased an present winery planted to cabernet sauvignon and zinfandel. In a Sonoma County world of dense dark-fruit cabs, this one shines for its red-fruit profile (raspberry, pink currant and a touch of cranberry), spice, background vanillin oak and liveliness on the palate. Additionally glorious are the 2018 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($75) and 2019 Sangiacomo Winery Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($50).

Imagery Property

2019 Sonoma County Cabernet Franc ($49)

This Better of Class winner within the 2022 Press Democrat North Coast Wine Problem bursts with power, with vivid raspberry and boysenberry aromas and flavors and effective stability. Jamie Benziger, following within the footsteps of her winemaker father, Joe Benziger, produces a stunning array of wines from each standard and strange varieties for Sonoma County. Her 2019 Higher Ridge Malbec ($45) from the Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak AVA is one other strong alternative.

Hamel Household Wines

2019 Isthmus Sonoma Valley ($90)

Hamel’s red-wine blends actually are costly for Sonoma County, though related trendy, concentrated and luscious Napa Valley variations can value rather more than the $120 worth of the Hamel Household Ranch and Hamel Nuns Canyon pink wines. Isthmus, a mix of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and petite verdot, is an introduction to the Hamel type, at $30 much less, and it delivers plush texture; well-ripened black currant, raspberry and darkish cherry fruit; tobacco and sage notes; and a comfortable, lengthy end.

Jordan Vineyard

2018 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($60)

Comfortable fiftieth anniversary to John Jordan’s Alexander Valley vineyard, established by his dad and mom, Tom and Sally Jordan, in 1972. Founding winemaker Rob Davis retired in 2019, leaving Maggie Kruse accountable for the cellar. So the 2018 is classic is technically Davis’ wine, although with Kruse’s arms are throughout it. It’s traditional Jordan: medium-bodied, understated, elegant, full of life and age-worthy.

Longboard Vineyards

2019 DaKine Winery Russian River Valley Merlot ($45)

Proprietor/winemaker Oded Shakked developed his DaKine Winery off Westside Highway in Russian River Valley in 2000. He planted pinot noir, in fact, but additionally merlot, cabernet sauvignon and syrah, not content material to place all his eggs in a single viticultural basket. Shakked, a crazy-mad surfer and former glowing winemaker at J Vineyards & Vineyard, exhibits that not solely can merlot have the tannin and acid construction to age fantastically for a decade or extra, it may be beneficiant and mouth-filling when younger. Additionally extremely advisable are the yeasty, marvelously dry “Z” Brut Late Disgorged glowing wine ($75) and DaKine Winery Russian River Valley Syrah ($55).

Meeker Vineyards

2018 Winemaker’s Handprint Sonoma County Merlot ($55)

The winemaker’s imprint is on each bottle of Meeker merlot, a reminder that craftsmanship nonetheless has a task in producing wine. As of late, the bottle imprint duties belong to Lucas Meeker, son of founders Molly and the late Charlie Meeker. Lucas and Charlie shared the duty till the elder Meeker’s dying in 2021. Whereas Lucas honors custom and shares lots of his dad’s winemaking philosophies, he additionally will strive something within the cellar at the least as soon as. His swings at pétillant naturel sparklers, rosés and verdelho have largely related, notably with youthful drinkers. But on the subject of merlot, Meeker leans towards old style/Previous World. He’s not afraid to bottle wines comparable to this one which might be firmly structured, excessive in acidity and low in pH (for long-term cellaring), with extra time in barrel and bottle earlier than a classic is launched.

Robert Younger Property Vineyard

2018 Scion Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($75)

In 1935 and on the tender age of 16, Robert inherited his household’s Alexander Valley ranch after the dying of his father, Silas, and commenced changing plum bushes with wine grapes. In 1963, Robert cultivated cabernet sauvignon and adopted with chardonnay. His son, Fred, and his siblings based Robert Younger Property Vineyard in 1997. Scion is a tribute to Robert; it’s a broad-shouldered, solidly structured cabernet sauvignon constructed to age for a decade or extra. The 2018 Property Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($62) is extra accessible now. It’s wealthy in blackberry fruit and accented with cedar, cigar field and vanillin notes.

Roth Property Vineyard

2019 Sonoma County Heritage Pink ($30)

Wine competitors judges like it when a wine they select as Better of Present — Better of the Finest, on this case, within the 2022 Press Democrat North Coast Wine Problem — seems to be inexpensive. This Bordeaux-style mix of cabernet sauvignon, malbec, petit verdot and merlot dazzled the North Coast Wine Problem judges within the sweepstakes spherical and was mistaken by some (me, at the least) to be a full-bodied pink within the $50-and-up vary. “Sensible. Rugged but good-looking. Deep, dense, pleasurable. Male film star with a chiseled chin” have been a few of the judges’ feedback. Roth Property, an Alexander Valley vineyard flying the Foley Household Wines possession flag, additionally scored one other win for customers with its Better of Class, 2019 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($34).

Sebastiani Vineyards & Vineyard

2019 Cherryblock Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($150)

The Cherryblock Winery, planted in 1961 north of the Sebastiani vineyard close to downtown Sonoma, contributed 61% of the grapes for this wine. It comes at a hefty worth — historic worth can command this — and it’s Sebastiani’s flagship wine. It additionally reminds that cabernet doesn’t need to be grown on hillsides and mountaintops to deserve reward; farming on slopes wasn’t a factor 60 years in the past. Admire Cherryblock for its drinkability, medium physique, ripe tannins, juicy black cherry and darkish plum fruit, stability and refreshing acidity.

Serres Ranch Wine

2018 Buchanan Property Grown Sonoma Valley Merlot ($65)

John P. Serres got here to San Francisco in 1872 earlier than transferring his household to Sonoma County. Since 1924, six generations of Serres have operated the ranch, which incorporates livestock and blueberry farming in Mendocino County and wine grape rising. Taylor Serres and different fifth-generation members launched winemaking in 2017, with three wines: this merlot and two different Bordeaux-style pink blends. Buchanan is decadently wealthy and concentrated; its 20% cabernet sauvignon element makes a huge impact. The ripe black currant and Damson plum fruit, chocolate-covered cherry and mocha and creamy vanillin are enlivened by shiny acidity. There’s additionally Bleusé, a glowing mix of blueberry fruit and aleatico wine bought in cans.