Materra Cunat Family Vineyards
Midnight Red Blend
Oak Knoll District
Napa Valley, California
BOLD WINE STYLE
The Midnight Red Blend is deep purple in color with aromatic notes of cranberry, red currant, and vanilla cola. Up front, there is a zingy acidity with a bit of nice spice on the palate. The wine is medium-weight, but finish is powerful and persistent.
Analysis: 14.7% alcohol / volume
Varietal: 46% Malbec, 31% Petit Verdot, 23% Merlot
Appellation: Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley, California
Oak Aging: 45% new French Oak for 19 months
Production: 802 cases
Serving: This wine will drink beautifully upon release, or will age well up to 7 years in your cellar. It is incredibly versatile with food pairings.
ABOUT MATERRA:
Proprietor Brian Cunat, grew up on a Midwest farm, developing a passion for agriculture and farming. He and his wife, Miki, found themselves traveling extensively, touring wineries and enjoying the cuisines of the local countries. In 2007, Brian and his brother purchased a 50-acre property in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley. By 2014, they hired an expert team of vineyard managers and winemakers and transformed their property into a state-of-the-art winery capable of producing 150,000 gallons of wine. The Materra winery maintains ongoing efforts to improve their sustainability and since 2017, they have been Napa Green certified. Learn more about the winery here.
Coursey Graves Winery
Works and Days
Pinot Noir
Sonoma Coast, California
MELLOW WINE STYLE
This Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is elegant and refined. There are notes of fresh cherry, a hint of strawberry, star anise, dried flowers and crushed stone. The long, persistent finish makes the second drink next to impossible.
Analysis: 14% alcohol / volume
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Production: 252 cases
Serving: Drink now or regularly over the next 12 years.
VINEYARD:
This wine is a blend of Dijon, California Heritage, and Swiss clones from two Sonoma Coast vineyards planted in 1999 and 2007. Spring Hill is located near the Pacific Ocean on light, sandy soils in western Sonoma County; while the Hill Justice Vineyard is located 5 miles inland on volcanic soil, 1200 feet above sea level.
VINTAGE AND WINEMAKER NOTES:
A warm winter with good rainfall led to slightly early bud-break. Early shoot growth was normal and excellent weather encouraged flowering. This led to a larger-than-average crop with great fruit uniformity. 2018 avoided the heat spikes of years prior, meaning even ripening and developed tannins. Vineyards were handpicked and clusters were pressed whole. Wine was native yeast fermented and sur lie aged 12 months in Terracotta Amphora vessels. An additional 5 months of stainless steel barrel aging occurred on lees. The wine is bottled unfined, unfiltered, and free of additives. Minimal amounts of SO2 preserve freshness.
ABOUT COURSEY GRAVES WINERY:
The Coursey Graves Winery operates under the philosophy that farming and winemaking are one practice. Their vineyards are organically farmed without any herbicides, pesticides, or fungicides. They are dedicated to preserving their estate with a clean eco-conscience and nurture the essence of the fruit to reflect the time and the place in which it was made. Learn more about their winery here.
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