$80 per bottle
$68 per bottle (Members)
Red Wine of the Earth ~ en Magnum
The newly released cuvée is the 23rd edition of Le Cigare Volant,
and it certainly shows the family flavor profile of red fruits,
herbal, and earthy notes in a savory, medium-bodied package. Bright
ruby red with a pale purplish rim, it offers cherry aromas with a
bit of spice, menthol, sassafras, and black pepper. On the palate
there is fresh cherry, pomegranate, and red bramble fruit. The wine
is peppery and lively with good acidity around an earthy, savory
core.
A blend of grenache, syrah, and mourvèdre with just a soupçon of
cinsault makes for a bright and wonderfully gamey wine. The chief
red in residence, grenache, derives primarily from our traditional
Biodynamic® grenache source from Alta Loma Vineyard in Monterey
County. This is supplemented with a smidge of our own Estate
grenache, adding a discreet spiciness to the attraction. The syrah
is principally sourced from Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Maria
Valley, which produces the closest analogue we have found to a
Northern Rhône syrah—tannic and meaty in the lower registers;
peppery, fruitful, and delicately floral in the top, all the while
showing great balance and harmony. A group of non-irrigated,
centenarian Contra Costa vineyards has provided mourvèdre for
Cigare for many years. Finally, a dollop of cinsault provides a
very particular fragrance of flowers and aromatic herbs.
While the zesty and youthful '07 is excellent right now, aging it
for 2-3 more years would be all to the good. We recommend a gentle
decanting before consumption.
Vital Statistics
Varietal Blend: 60% grenache, 32% syrah, 4% mourvèdre, 4%
cinsault
Appellation: Central Coast
TA: 6 g/L
pH: 3.62
Alcohol by Volume: 14.4%
Serving Temp: 55-60°F
Cellaring: Aged 20 months. Aging potential: 20+ years from release
(September 2011)
