Michael David Winery, Lodi (California) Cinsaut 2018

 Here is a gorgeous, delicious, easy to love red wine that contains a big piece of California history.  The source vineyard (located in Lodi’s Mokelumne River sub-AVA, the largest of the 7 sub-AVA’s) was planted in 1886.  It’s generally in the southwestern portion of the Lodi AVA, planted in the region’s “Tokay series sandy loam” soil type, which provides great drainage for grapevines in the near sea level flat vineyard.  The fruit is highly sought after, and Michael David’s take is a fresh, fruit forward wine that’s long on cherry and blueberry fruit and fall spice.  It’s quite similar in style to Cru Beaujolais.  I will say that I always have open wine around the house due to the nature of the job, and a lot of it gets passed off or down the drain.  Not this one – it got the argon treatment, and it got completely consumed over the course of a week.  Pair it with cheese and charcuterie, or meats from poultry to beef.