The Alma de Cattleya Red Wine is all about showcasing the splendor of Sonoma County’s vineyards. Owner and winemaker Bibiana González Rave is undoubtedly one of California’s hottest young winemakers, and her skills are on full display in her Red Blend.
A blend of primarily Syrah, with Cab and Merlot in supporting roles, this is the kind of California Red Blend that truly excites me. Bibiana sources all of her grapes from cooler, hillside sites on the Sonoma Coast, and the resulting wine balances ripe fruit and spice with zesty acids and fine tannins.
2018 Alma de Cattleya Red Wine
Our idea of the Perfect California Red Blend. Ripe, balanced, and pleasure-bent, this is a very satisfying bottle of wine.
To order, stop by the store or click here to order in our online store.
In 2015, Bibiana was awarded “Winemaker of the Year” by the San Francisco Chronicle. As if that wasn’t enough, just a year prior Wine Enthusiast named her one of the “40 Under 40 America’s Tastemakers.” Let’s just say she is on everybody’s radar, and after tasting her newest releases recently, she’s definitely on mine.
“Unquestionably part of the upcoming generation of world-class winemakers who will dominate the California wine scene over the coming decades.” Jeb Dunnuck
Just 275 cases of her Red Wine were produced in the nearly perfect 2018 vintage. For this wine, Bibiana ages for 18 months in French oak, but all of the barrels are older. Thus, the oak serves to enhance the texture of the wine as opposed to adding toasty, oaky flavors to it. In turn, this allows that gorgeous fruit to shine through unimpeded by new oak.
The resulting wine is one that really jumped out and grabbed me. Layered, rich, and generous, this offers up loads of ripe blueberry and blackberry, peppery spice, anise, and smoky herb. The texture is plush, but tannin and acid provide structure and support to the opulent fruit.
A perfect California red for a cookout, this also makes for a delicious “sipping wine.” Translated, that means drink it slow and taste/smell how it changes and opens up over the course of an evening. With just 275 cases produced, I’m happy we got all 7 cases that came to WNC. I doubt they’ll last long.
To order, stop by the store or click here to order in our online store.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville