The Trentadue family were one of the first wineries to set up shop in the Alexander Valley. In 1959, Italian immigrants Leo and Evelyn Trentadue fled the developers encroaching on their apricot and cherry orchards in Sunnyvale, the area known today as Silicon Valley.
To preserve their way of life, these hard-working Italian ranchers purchased 208 acres of land in Sonoma County's then remote Alexander Valley. Little did they know that this area would gain serious acclaim as one of the top red wine zones in all of Sonoma County.
Trentadue's 2022 OPR (Old Patch Red) is an old-school California Red Blend based mainly on Zinfandel, with smaller amounts of Petite Sirah and Carignane. It is hearty, delicious, and I think it offers up much of the same appeal as a rich and smooth Cotes du Rhone.
At just $16.99/bottle, this 90-point-rated red blend really is a stupendous value.
2022 Trentadue OPR Red Blend -- Why should you buy it?
- Rated 90 points by Wine Enthusiast, I'd actually bump that up to 92. Full-bodied and hearty, yet zesty and smooth, it displays aromas and flavors of boysenberry, plum, dark cherry, dried herbs, violet, and toasty oak.
- The Zinfandel and Petite Sirah components of this wine come from the family's Geyserville Estate Vineyard, and vine age averages 75-80 years. The Carignane is sourced from a nearly 100-year-old site in Lodi. These old vines provide deep, rich, and pleasure-bent flavors.
- This is so much better than the Red Blends you find at the grocery store, and it's less expensive too! Produced in much smaller batches from esteemed vineyards, it drinks way above its humble price point.
If you have loved the J. Dusi Model M Red Blend or Marietta Old Vine Red, you need to get some of this, as it drinks with a similar style and rustic charm. Enjoy it with BBQ if you want to get the most out of it, but it also makes for a great "cocktail red," meaning no food is required whatsoever.
