Menage a Trois Silk Soft Red Blend 2014
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With its alluring fragrance of dried violets and berries, Silk beckons, promising an unforgettable experience. Cherry and ripe raspberry flavors mingle with delicate hints of rose petals and spice, and glide across your palate like liquid silk. Silk is a blend of Pinot Noir with seamless cherry flavors, Malbec with velvety softness and Petite Sirah with alluring depth. To further illuminate the wine’s unique texture and flavors, the blend was enhanced with a hint of sweet, spicy French and American oak. The winemakers blended grapes from California’s Central Coast, North Coast and Lodi-Delta appellations.
Blend: 70% Pinot Noir, 20% Malbec, 10% Petite Sirah
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While the gossamer texture is sensually appealing, and the tannins refined and graceful, the flavor profile of this blend of Pinot Noir, Malbec and Petite Sirah is not the feminine creature one may image. On the nose, heady fragrance of freshly ground espresso beans and a meaty richness occur. Sweet Bing cherries surface in a bath of melted chocolate. The result is an orchestration of good will to the palate.
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When it comes to wine, we believe the more the merrier, so we’re delighted to invite you to indulge in an experience like no other. Our winemakers play matchmaker, bringing together ripe, luscious flavors, alluring aromas, and sensual textures to create our collection of fun, flirtatious wines. Ménage à Trois originated as a blend of three red varietals, created in 1996 by two psychiatric professionals at the Folie à Deux Winery in St. Helena, California. Capturing wine lovers’ imagination through word of mouth, the offering was soon expanded to white and rosé blends as well. Continuing to grow, the Ménage à Trois brand increased significantly after the brand was added to the Trinchero Family Estates portfolio in 2004. Ménage à Trois is credited with creating the Red Blend category and defining the domestic Super Premium Red Blend segment, elevating the brand to iconic status within the wine industry.
California is a winemaking colossus; by itself it is the fourth largest producer in the world. Red wine accounts for 56% of the total by volume, and red grapes 63% of total acres planted. In addition, a number of California red wines are heralded as being among the most prestigious and sought-after wines in the world.
While the state’s incredibly diverse geography, soils and microclimates allow for a wide array of styles, the key factor unifying California red wine is the abundance of sunshine and a long, consistent growing season. This leads to well-developed fruit marked both by impressive ripeness and balancing acidity.
The state’s most famous red wine region, of course, is Napa Valley, where Cabernet Sauvignon reigns as king. But California boasts a wealth of other impressive appellations. The much larger and climatically varied Sonoma County also produces world class California Cabernet, along with wonderful examples of California Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.
Fine versions of Cabernet and Zinfandel hail from Paso Robles as well, which is also gaining fame with Rhone varietals like Syrah and Grenache. As for Pinot Noir, terrific examples can be found from AVA’s such as Anderson Valley, Carneros, Santa Lucia Highlands and Sta. Rita Hills. Wineries in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties are making wonderful Syrahs, and the Sierra Foothill appellations are proving to be an experimental hotbed, with Italian and Spanish varietals employed to great effect.
This of course is a mere sketch. The subject of California red wine is as deep and broad as an ocean, and absolutely a joy to explore!