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Tasting Notes

This jovial red wine presents a medium-bodied structure highlighted with scents of ripe mulberry, mission fig and cinnamon. The palate delights with easy-drinking notes of black cherry and milk chocolate taming a brighter acidity. Its herbaceous undertones are cordial-like with a spritz of citrus peel. The finish is playfully charismatic, soft and broad in its tannins.

Vintage Notes

2018 provided an ideal climate allowing time for the grapes to ripen to their optimum flavor structure. The year presented a fairly mild growing season with few heat spikes, inspiring winemakers to push harvest back a few weeks. This longer time on the vine was great for grapes and the mild temperatures kept the fruit from over-ripening. More than an inch of rain fell in early October in many locations, but there was little impact on the quality of the fruit. 2018 could be remembered as one of the longest and most desirable seasons in years, producing exceptional quality grapes throughout Sonoma County.

Vineyard Notes

Fruit from this Super Tuscan-style wine is sourced from exquisite vineyards on the south-facing slopes of Sonoma Valley. The red volcanic soil and excellent drainage produce small yields of intense, highly concentrated fruit. The name Caro Santo or Dear Saint honors our namesake St. Francis of Assisi.

Winemaker Notes

In the spirit of our Italian heritage, this super Tuscan-inspired blend was made to reflect its traditional characteristics. Notoriously slow to ripen, the Sangiovese grapes were picked at the end of September and put into a combination of open-top & closed-top tanks to produce a better aroma and texture. The fruit was later combined with Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma Valley. Both tanks underwent a 3-day cold soak before inoculation, and slow fermentation.