Rated 92 – The 2019 Special Reserve red is a blend of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah, 12% Petit Sirah, 10% Carignan and the rest Marselan, all aged for 18 months in 50% new French oak. It comes in at 13.9% alcohol. Of the to-be-released wines in this report, this is the farthest out, not likely to hit the marketplace until February 2023. It has been bottled since May 2021, though, so it should certainly be showing some of its stuff. As expected, it is a bit tight. As it airs out, the tannins increase in power, but they are never too ferocious. You could drink this sooner if it were available, but if it were available, then I’d probably still recommend waiting until next year anyway for better results. So, it’s a plus that the winery is aging it for you.
The rest is lovely. The texture leans to silk more than velvet. There are red fruits in abundance and a juicy, fresh finish. The freshness here is a big plus. This becomes enlivening rather than ponderous. Overall, this seems right on its normal marks. What it can develop into remains to be seen. It certainly has upside potential. At some point, it will be time for a vertical here, but this won’t be ready for such an exercise for a couple of years, at least. This bottling has gone through some style changes in terms of blends, but the newest style, which includes Carignan and Marselan, certainly has several vintages under its belt now. It’s a nice success.
