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Item Number: 6676
UPC: 0769434216295
Country: USA
Region: California
Sub Region: Central Coast
Appellation/AVA: Central Coast
Vintage: 2011
Grape(s): 56% Carignane / 28% Mourvèdre / 9% Grenache / 6% Syrah / 1% Zinfandel
Type: Wine - Red
Bottle Size: 750ml Pack: 12
Closure: Screwcap
Alc by Vol(%): 13.7
Total Acidity: 3.53
pH: 6.2
Case Production: 2,256
About: Contra is a wine that reflects the opposite of
modern wine sensibilities—of wines over-worked and
amped up, pushed and prodded into Procrustean palate numbing
sameness. This wine is a contrarian
blend of perhaps the most old-fangled grape variety, Carignane, from several extremely old (100 year+), nongrafted,
dry-farmed head-trained vineyards located
in Contra Costa County and young, vibrant, racy and peppery Syrah.
Tasting Notes:
The 2011 Contra marries the fresh blackberry and
cranberry aromas of old vine Carignane with the classic
old vine Mourvèdre character of licorice and leather.
This vintage provided a bright acidity with black cherry,
blackberry, and a mix of spice on the palate. The silky
tannins provide this wine with a texture to savor.
Winemaking Notes: Dedicated to producing wines in a more unaffected,
hands-off style, with a particular emphasis on the
expression of terroir, the grapes for Contra were harvested by hand from the
northernmost reaches of old vines from Contra Costa
County’s Del Barba and Evangelho Vineyards and from the
more Southern climate vineyards Arroyo Seco’s Ventana Vineyard,
San Luis Obispo’s Alamo Creek Vineyard, Monterey’s
Rancho Solo Vineyard, and Santa Maria Valley’s famed
Bien Nacido Vineyard. Grapes were hand sorted, indigenous yeast
fermented in individual lots with extended maceration and
100% malolactic fermentation before blending to achieve to a wine that is
bursting with life, exuberance and deep vitality.
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