I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news. The good news is that we’re offering up the 2017 Mark Herold Collide Red Blend at one of the best prices in the country. The bad news is that this is the last year Mark Herold will make this wine. A blend of Tempranillo, Petite Sirah, Carignan, and Graciano, it destroys other California red blends like The Prisoner and sells for half the price.
Rated 94 points by this taster and 92 points by Antonio Galloni, this “California meets Spain” Red Blend is dense, rich, full-bodied, and fantastic. Whether you like Napa-styled Cabs or Red Blends or opulent Spanish reds like Priorat or Ribera del Duero, you’re going to love this one. I bought my distributor’s last 120 bottles and you won’t find this one anywhere else in Asheville.
2017 Mark Herold Collide Red Blend
“TOP RED BLEND FROM ONE OF NAPA’S TOP WINEMAKERS!” – Josh Spurling -- 94 points
SOLD OUT
Let’s get right to the nitty gritty shall we? Galloni certainly reviewed this one like a 94+ pointer! “The 2017 Collide is another fabulous wine in this range from Mark Herold. Vibrant and explosive, the 2017 is endowed with tremendous energy. Lavender, plum, spice, mint and a whole range of spice notes run through this super-expressive red from Mark Herold. The blend is 38% Tempranillo, 23% Petite Sirah, 23% Carignan and 16% Graciano. This is such a delicious and also distinctive wine, especially within its very moderate price point.” Sounds good doesn’t it? Trust me, it is!
And it should come as no surprise — Mark Herold is a brilliant winemaker. After finishing his studies at UC-Davis, he became the research enologist at Joseph Phelps. While on the job at Phelps, Mark started making his own wines in his garage in downtown Napa. What started off as a fun side project turned into Merus, Mark’s “Cult Cab” which debuted in 1998 with 93 points from Robert Parker. He sold the brand in 2007, and shortly thereafter, Mark Herold Wines was born. In addition to making his own wines, he also consults for the likes of Kamen, Buccella, Kobalt, and a few other cult producers.
When Mark sold Merus, he had to sign a non-compete agreement which did not allow him to make Cabernet Sauvignon for several years. And that’s why this is his last vintage of Collide. Mark is going to focus all of his energies on Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. I get it — Cab was his first love and everyone knows it’s California’s “cash cow.” And now that he can make as much as he wants, why wouldn’t he? But man, I’m going to miss his French and Spanish-inspired wines.
So grab some of this before it’s gone for good. Although I think Galloni’s notes are accurate, I’ve got some of my own to add. Source from vineyards in Napa, Sonoma, Lodi, and Arroyo Grande, this is a big old glass of wine. Deeply colored and richly aromatic, it explodes out of the glass with notes of ripe black raspberry, cassis, and violet leading into a seamless and opulent palate of sumptuous dark fruit, black tea, and Indian spices. This could easily hit the shelf at $35 to $40, and I might just just price it at that once the sale period ends.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville