Klinker Brick Winery Zinfandel Old Ghost 2017

Jada Sawbones is made from Paso Robles 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Syrah, 14% Petit Verdot.

A seamless fusion of the best Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah lots from Jada Estate Vineyard. Currants, blackberries, pencil shavings, and clove meet ripe strawberry, chocolate and fresh minerality. Full-bodied with balanced tannin and a persistently fruity finish, the wine is supported by plenty of acidity.

SAWBONES is slang for a surgeon and doctor. Jada's founder and owner, Jack Messina, was a cardiovascular & thoracic surgeon for over 40 years so when Josh and the winemaker at the time were going back and forth about a new wine to showcase their Cab & Syrah programs, Josh decided on this tribute to his father to represent the many years of love and devotion Jack has given to ountless patients and families throughout his long career.

In 2017 they combined multiple small-lot fermentations of Syrah and a co-fermentation of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The Cabernet Sauvignon is from clone 337 only, chosen to compliment the Syrah in this blend with dark and aromatic fruit, higher acidity, and deep color. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot co-fermentation spent 9 days in tank before pressing to avoid excessive tannin, whereas the Syrah fermentations averaged 16 days. All varieties were triple sorted with multiple green passes in the vineyard, cluster sorting, and a final berry sorting before gravity-filling each tank. Aging for 18 months in 225L Barrels (54% New French Oak, 36% Once Used French Oak).

Review:

"The 2017 Sawbones checks in as 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Syrah, and 14% Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in 54% new French oak. Its deep purple color is followed by stunning notes of blackcurrants, cassis, lead pencil shavings, chocolate, and crushed rocks. Pure, full-bodied, loaded with sweet fruit, and beautifully balanced, it's one hedonistic yet elegant beauty from this team that knocks it out of the park.”
- Jeb Dunnuck (October 2019), 96 pts

Argot Bastard Tongue Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Sonoma Pinot Noir.

Inheriting an unbroken string of success, the “Bastard Tongue” arrives fully-formed and ready to impress. Always a blend from multiple Pinot Noir vineyards, this iteration of “BT” was selected from three distinct sites, each making their own unique contribution of Sonoma County terroir to the wine’s character.

Exploding forth on a tidal wave of high-toned, intense red and black fruits, this is a Pinot Noir that no stemware can contain. The palate’s profound depth is balanced by an inherent freshness, allowing the wine to crackle with brambly energy, while sustained by bass notes of underbrush, black tea, pie spice and baker’s chocolate. A formidable rendition of “Bastard Tongue”, and a deserving successor to its line.

Night harvested by hand throughout September, cluster and berry sorted by hand, de-stemmed, no crushing. 7-day cold soaks, followed by native fermentation in open-top bins. Average time on the skins, 14 days. Aging 20 months in French oak, 100% new. Never racked prior to bottling. Bottled unfined, unfiltered.

Very versatile for pairing. Goes well with grilled meat, vegetable, fish, poultry and cheese.

Review:

"A more limited production cuvée, the 2018 Pinot Noir Bastard Tongue is a big, ripe, sexy beast of a Pinot Noir delivering loads of black cherry and black raspberry fruit intermixed with plenty of spring flowers, sappy herb, and forest-like nuances. Full-bodied, it has a hedonistic, sweetly fruited style, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It doesn’t pull any punches yet stays balanced, textured, and a joy to drink. It should keep for 5-7 years or so.”

- Jeb Dunnuck, 95 pts

Luis Canas Reserva Seleccion de la Familia Rioja is made from 85% Tempranillo and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

Aged for 20 months in new oak barrels - 50% French 50% American.

45 years old vines
Alcohol: 14,5º
Total acidity: 5,73 g./l.
Volatile acidity: 0,73 g./l.
PH: 3,53
Free SO2: 28 mg./l.
Reducing sugars: 1,3 g./l.

The “family reserve” from one of Rioja Alavesa’s most enduring family-run wineries. Wines destined to be the Reserva de la Familia label are made from a selection of grapes from old vines, those which combine a series of characteristics such as good orientation and exposure to the sun, and a poor soil which ensures low yields.

This wine is one of very few Rioja wines to blend Cabernet Sauvignon with Tempranillo. Bodegas Luis Cañas was granted permission by the D.O.Ca. to plant this variety as an experiment in the early 1980s.

Tasting notes
A brillant garnet color with cherry hints on the edges.
The nose offers a complex variety of aromas that combine to bring an intense and sophisticated wine. Initially we can find very ripe berry fruits, smoky notes, raisins and liquor. After a certain amount of aeration, the cinnamon and jam notes appear and, with a little more time, the roasted and spiced aromas are noticed more clearly.

The palate is full, with a good presence of tannins, although these are offset by the glycerine like character, resulting in a fleshy sensation. Long lasting and lingering finish.

Winemaking and aging:
The grapes were cold macerated for 72 hours upon arrival at the winery. They underwent fermentation at 26º C in sealed cement tanks under constant thermal control, with the must pumped over daily. With the paste devatted by gravity, spontaneous malolactic fermentation took place after 45 days.
The wine was aged for 20 months in 50% medium toasted American and 50% French oak barrels. The barrel ageing not only adds tannins from the wood, but stabilizes the wine naturally. After the final racking, it was clarified in tanks with a small amount of natural egg white, decanted after 30 days and bottled directly without any type of filtration. Because this wine’s evolutionary cycle is quite slow, only corks of the highest quality available were used to ensure that it could be prolonged for several years. 

Tres Ojos Rosado Calatayud is fresh, crisp and juicy Rose made of 50% Garnacha and 50% Tempranillo displaying beautiful strawberry and raspberry fruits. Enjoy with salads, chicken or simply with a glass. Serve chilled.

Lambrusco Amabile Bruscus San Valentino Red is 100% Lambrusco from grapes grown in the province of Modena and Reggio Emilia.
Traditional vinification methods combined with modern technology to produce wines of guaranteed quality. After the grapes are pressed, they are transferred to fermentation tanks where the must is racked off in an average of 70 hours. The wine then completes its first rapid fermentation process and passes to the slower fermentation phase, during which time it is racked off several times to improve its clarity. The wine is placed in an autoclave at strictly controlled temperatures wherein it undergoes a second fermentation. This is known as the Charmat Method. The temperature is controlled for full development of the bouquet and for the lively and natural sparkle so characteristic of this wine.
Deep ruby red with violet reflections and a fine perlage.
Intense vinous bouquet with hints of ripe red fruits.
Lively, fresh, sweet and inviting with bright fruit and a delightful sparkle.
Excellent by itself or with desserts of dark chocolate, gorgonzola, cheesecakes.

Despite its relative youth, Zweigelt is actually an Austrian classic. This variety was created in 1922, when Dr. Fritz Zweigelt crossed two grapes - St Laurent and Blaufränkisch. Originally, it was intended for the new variety to be called Rotburger, referring to the place where it was born, Klosterneuburg. But this name never took hold, and instead, Zweigelt was named after the man who was the key in its development.

Today, Zweigelt is the most widely planted red variety in Austria, growing in nearly 9% of this country's vineyards. It is a robust grape, highly resistant to dryness, frost and various diseases.

The wine boasts a pale rosé color, it has plenty of fruity aromas, with red cherry and wild strawberry flavors. It is medium-bodied, but it still have a nice long and pleasant finish with a light cinnamon type of spice to it.

Only the best grapes are harvested with a lot of experience and know-how and further processed. The grapes are fermented directly gently pressed and cooled. The fermentation takes place exclusively in stainless steel tanks.

Perfectly at home on any picnic, delicious with fried chicken, and tames the heat when paired with spicy dishes. There is also a slight watermelon note that makes it perfect for spring and summer. A great pairing with barbecued shrimp.