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Tasting Notes

This intensely flavored wine offers aromas of sandalwood and incense mingling with pomegranate juice, juniper berries, 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

Cooler temperatures and an abundance of spring rains in 2023 pushed back the first day of harvest to the beginning of September. The later start and extra ripening time for the fruit allowed flavors and color to develop slowly for depth and concentration. Warm fall days spread out harvest to the end of October for many of the red varieties, with a final pick of Merlot delivered to the winery on November 2.

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 6% Sonoma Valley Cabernet from one of our premier grape growers to produce a true super Tuscan-style wine.