Angels & Cowboys Proprietary Red Blend Sonoma County 2020

The 2020 growing season was exceptionally dry and though we longed for rain, the dry conditions led to very early phenolic maturity and early ripening in most of our choice appellations. Sourced from the most iconic AVAs within Sonoma County: from the benchlands of Dry Creek to the slopes of Sonoma Mountain, from the mountains of the Alexander Valley to the rugged ridgelines of the Sonoma Coast and rolling hills of Sonoma Valley we seek parcels that exhibit depth of fruit character and luscious structure.

 

Individual parcels were vinted and barrel-aged separately with blending taking place in stages over a sixteen-month period. Some highly compatible components (Zinfandel and Petite Sirah) were married early in the cellaring cycle while other lots benefited from extended aging on their own and were incorporated later, when fully matured. Final assemblage took place five months prior to bottling so that the wine could integrate and age as a blend. We choose to age exclusively in French oak as we find its elegance and subtlety are well-suited to each of our varietal components and this commonality blurs the lines of varietal character to unify and harmonize the blend.

 

Crimson-rosewood in color and bursting with deepberry fruit the wine opens with juicy briar berry, cassis, and plum and rollsover the palate in waves of tart cherry, fig jam, and grenadine. Earthy dimensions of Syrah and Petite Sirah lend grounding savory elements of pepper and anise, while the abundant fruit notes of Zinfandel and Grenache suggest strawberry and balsamic. This wine tapestry is woven with a continuity of French oak that brings sweet spice, reminiscent of toffee and gingersnap. Medium-firm tannins lend mid-palate structure, and the finish is plush andwarm