Based on its color and the initial sniff, my instinct says this could be a Côtes du Rhône Villages. A really good one. But then, after the initial taste, it comes across with subtle but charming flavors that don’t match anything in my experience. Though Cinsaut is classified as a lightweight, this is no such thing. Its bright, fresh cranberry aroma mingles with spices and black tea, and the flavors are full of fresh picked dark cherries and an earthy, leathery back note. Balanced, with light tannin it finishes on a lightly tart note along with lingering berries. Lovely!
Holly’s Hill Vineyard, El Dorado (California) Cinsaut 2020
By Norm Roby