Richardson Vineyard Mendocino County CA

Carignane is a classic Rhone varietal that is often blend with more intense grapes such as Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah to make the wine more approachable and earlier drinking.

Carignane, Carignano, Cariñena are all the same late ripening, dark colored, grape with good acidity and mild bitterness. It once composed France's most planted black variety. These very old vines (over 60 years old) have served as blenders to the vineyard's Zinfandel and are also sold to a famous Napa valley winery as a blender for their Cabernet. In 2008, we harvested a small patch of a much larger planting. They are located next to a dry streambed. The soil is full of alluvial rock, similar to those photos of Chateaneuf-du-Pape we have all seen. The vines produce a meager crop of smaller berries than its brethren further up the hill in richer soil. These grapes ripen 10 to14 days before their upscale neighbors. We should expect small berried, intense fruit at a very reasonable price. These grapes are great for blending or to feature with a minor addition of Syrah, Malbec, or Zinfandel. This Carignane should be more intense than the wonderful Redwood Valley ones of the past.