The view from the top of any mountain is rewarding. For Sosie Wines’ proprietors, Scott MacFiggen and Regina Bustamante, this red blend signals the first summit of Moon Mountain but it is certainly not the last. If the resulting Bordeaux-inspired 2017 Moon Mountain Red Blend (SRP $45) is any indication of what Sonoma elevation can offer, the mountain is certainly worth the climb.
Sourced from Cavedale Vineyard in Sonoma County’s Moon Mountain AVA, this 2017 Red Blend is as impressive and complex as the 2,000 foot elevation site from which it is grown. The blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), Merlot (37%), and Cabernet Franc (18%) is made more intense not only due to the vineyard’s high elevation but also the site’s volcanic soils and continuous bay breezes blowing across the AVA. The final product – after an hour of decanting – is intense, refined, and incredibly decadent with aromas of blueberry compote, black pepper and rich flavors of sour cherry, cranberry, with dark chocolate emerging on the palate over structured tannins.
All three varieties were harvested on the same day but vinified separately. All lots were cold soaked followed by natural fermentation. Post-fermentation, the wine was left on skins for extended maceration, with a total skin contact time of 36 days. The wines were aged separately for 21 months in 50% new French oak. After exhaustive trials, a final blend was selected a few months prior to bottling.
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