Saracina Vineyards Old Soul Red 2017
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Wine
Spectator
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Inky purple in color with notes of blackberry cobbler and mocha on the
nose. The palate is rich and dense, with ripe tannins that wrap around
the core of the fruit and lend to a long, juicy finish. The hallmark of a
successful blend is its versatility.
This wine would be equally at home
on a Wednesday night served with carne asada tacos as it would be
on a Saturday evening with a sophisticated mixed grill and roasted
root vegetables.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Opens with expressive raspberry, sassafras and tarragon accents that build tension and structure toward broad-shouldered tannins. Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Malbec and Syrah. Best from 2021 through 2026.
Other Vintages
2018-
Wine
Enthusiast -
Wilfred
Wong
Saracina Vineyards is a 400-acre winery estate located in Mendocino County. The winery and vineyards are Certified California Sustainable (“CSWA”) and home to a tasting room, a 140-year-old olive grove, vegetable gardens, beehives, alpacas, and all manner of bird and wild animal life.
Saracina’s location in Hopland is close to the southern border of Mendocino County, along the head waters of the Russian River. This area is a 90-minute drive north of San Francisco, and 30 miles north of the town of Healdsburg, in northern Sonoma County.
Winemaker Alex MacGregor joined John Fetzer, the original founder of Saracina Vineyards, in 2002, and has been making Saracina’s wines ever since. As a result of Alex’s commitment to quality, strong ties to the community, and long-standing grower relationships, Saracina Vineyards has been regarded as one of the most consistent wine producers in Mendocino County. And in 2018, Marc D. Taub took on stewardship of the Saracina Estate & Vineyards, upholding the spirit of family legacy that has defined this iconic Mendocino winery since inception.
The handcrafted, limited-production Saracina Vineyards wines reflect a conscious sense of this beautiful place in Mendocino County.
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.
A large and diverse appellation within California’s North Coast AVA, Mendocino is home to several smaller sub-regions—most notably the Anderson Valley. This scenic region, with rolling hills covered in redwood forests as well as vineyards, is one of the world’s top producers of certified organically-grown grapes. Due to wide geographical and climatic variation, a vast array of wine styles can be found here.