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90 Pts | Sunset International Wine Competition
Gold Medal | Sunset International Wine Competition

Tasting Notes

This intensely flavored wine offers aromas of sandalwood and incense mingling with pomegranate juice, juniper berry, and fresh raspberries. On the palate, it is full and dense, showcasing good purity of fruit with juicy plum notes at its core. Notes of roasted almond, dried citrus, and blackberry add complexity, while its food-friendly acidity creates perfect tension in the tannins, complemented by some layered earthiness.

Vintage Notes

The 2021 growing season saw near-perfect growing conditions. With minimal winter rain, the vines were awakened with ideal moderate springtime temperatures, eliminating any frost threat to the developing buds. At most sites, fruit set was during the optimal timeframe due to warm, consistent conditions. Veraison occurred 7-10 days earlier than in previous years due to the temperate weather and minimal rain. Moderate daytime temperatures and cool nights throughout the summer months, with a few of the regular short-lived heat spikes, allowing for excellent flavor development. The year saw an early harvest, with 90% of the region’s grapes being picked before the late Fall.

Vineyard Notes

Fruit for this Super Tuscan-style wine is sourced from an exquisite dry-farmed vineyard on the western edge of the Sonoma Valley floor. 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. For the base of this wine, Sangiovese grapes were picked in early September and put into a combination of open-top & closed-top fermentation tanks to produce better aromas and textures. Each tank underwent a 3-day cold soak before yeast inoculation, and then followed a warm fermentation for 10-14 days. After elevage the wine was later blended with 20% Sonoma Valley Merlot from our Estate Behler vineyard, to produce a true super Tuscan style wine.