‘Apricots’, The Ojai Vineyard, Santa Barbara 2011

Producer: The Ojai Vineyard

Sangiovese and Grenache might be an unusual coupling, together they had a light and dark kind of interplay that was really promising, and they showed that tart and tannic Italian feel like first Apricots bottlings. Grenache that brings the darker, more brooding presence in the blend, while Sangiovese gave more bright red tones, with rich tart cherry, plum and dusty tobacco flavours. Together they offer knockout aroma and an intensely woodsy panoply of fruit, with subtle salty streaks that appear in the background.

Notes of tart cherries, cedar, mint, and hints of leafy herbs all emerge from this balanced, silky red that’s going to shine on the dinner table. Really the whole notion of Apricots was to craft a food-friendly kind of wine, so maybe it’s best enjoyed that way!

Food pairing: any kind of hearty meat dish (it’s perfect with some beef shank Osso Bucco)