Alma de Cattleya Red Blend 2019
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Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine
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Winemaker Notes
Layered blackcurrant, dark chocolate, and cassis burst from the glass, as structured tannin and bright, youthful acidity envelop the palate.
Pair with semi-hard aged cow’s milk with some aging like cheddar, aged Gouda, semi-hard sheep’s milk cheeses and slightly firm, soft-ripened cheeses like triple crème brie with flavors such as truffles, adding earthy notes. Excellent with grilled or smoked pork, beef, or lamb with Mediterranean spices or pasta with a hearty red sauce, braised meat, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Lots of ripe blackberries, peppery herbs, and assorted meaty notes emerge from the deep purple 2019 Red Wine, which offers medium to full body, a kiss of iron and minerality on the palate, ripe tannins, and a great finish. This is one heck of a delicious, textured red to enjoy over the coming 4-6 years or so.
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Wine Spectator
Refined and nicely structured, with handsome dark plum, licorice and peppered beef flavors that finish with fine-grained tannins. Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2029
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Wine Enthusiast
This blend of 64% Syrah, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot makes for a delightful pour. Aromas of baked black plum, cocoa and dried rose lead into a palate framed by rustic tannins that hold up those rich fruit flavors, with mace and clove adding spice. Editors’ Choice.
Other Vintages
2017-
Spectator
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.