Ranchero Cellars, Dry Creek Valley (Sonoma County, California) Carignan 2016

 Here’s the review copy I wrote from my first go at this great wine — nice to see wine competition judges push it forward again.  The proprietary name couldn’t have been more appropriately chosen here.  This is a monster, restrained yet untamed, showing focused clove and anise notes over rich black fruit, carried on great structure with weight that is so well managed you don’t realize what a beast you’re dealing with.  Kudos to winemaker Amy Butler for helping to keep this variety in the public eye!   A Platinum Award winner at the 2019 San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge.