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Recommended Retailer:Bonny Doon Vineyard
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Red Wine of the Earth
In 2003, whether due to a faulty GPS or some very funky pruning in the Hecker Pass, the Cigare temporarily drifted away from its traditional reliance on grenache as a moral tether. Here syrah and mourvèdre are dominant and they have seen fit to take grenache behind the woodshed. Of recent vintages, this is the densest. We last detoured down this track in 1995 and you can hardly quarrel with the results. The 2003 should mature along a similar trajectory, the meaty musculature of the syrah and mourvèdre providing a solid framework for the spice cake and peppery ornamentation to coalesce and evolve around over the next 15 years.
Tasting Notes:
This really is a lovely wine; bright garnet highlights evince the youthful dynamism while its deep, dark maroon core speaks to the 03's developing maturity. The nose is earthy with dried game, peppermint, dried red fruits and brushy herbal notes competing for attention. On the palate this delicious sensorial continues with crunchy black cherry, olive and bitter orange all in rumpus before resolving into a long velvet finish. Truly classic Cigare Volant-very old world, savory and wonderfully quaffable. Pairing is ridiculously simple; all it takes is one sniff and sip and a hundred dishes come to mind-fig crostini or fresh fig pizza with arugula and and pancetta. Or perhaps roast duck breast with figs or in a savory plum sauce? Pasta Bolegense would certainly do the trick as this is a Cigare which can hold its own with a tomato or two. One last thing-is it ready to drink? Well yes but it will defintiely pay back any additional cellaring of 10 years would not be a problem.
Vinification:
Hand harvest and sorted; 15% whole cluster fermented; 100% ML; aged in 10,000 liter French oak upright tanks as well as in 25% new and 75% neutral French oak for 18 months; followed by 18 months in bottle prior to release.
Vital Statistics
Varietal Blend: 35% mourvèdre, 32% syrah, 26% grenache, 7% cinsault
Appellation: California
Cellaring: 10 years
Alcohol by Volume 13.5%
TA: 6.2 g/L
pH: 3.6
Wine club members always receive discounts on our wines:
1-11 bottles, save 15%
12-35 bottles, save 20%
36 bottles or more, save 25%
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2003 Le Cigare Volant - Members ONLY!
Rich and smooth red. Meaty, smoky and peppery.750ml
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