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Wine Details
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Description:
Native of southern France or northern Italy, Charbono arrived in California in the 1800s and gained favor as a body-builder and overall intensifier when blended with the early Napa Cabernets. Most "Charbonophiles" associate this variety with Inglenook which is where I fell in love with it in the 1960s. My Charbono is grown by Gary Heitz, former Inglenook grower, who provides profoundly expressive fruit from which I craft deep rich cuvees. Small percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and new French oak complete the assemblage of this inspiring red wine.
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Varietal Definition
Charbono:
Red-wine creating grape grown on small acreages in California. Some have argued that it is a clone of the now sparsely grown Douce Noir grape found in the Savoie region of France, better known as the Dolcetto grape widely grown in northern Italy
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Merlot:
Merlot is known as a Noble Bordeaux varietal. Although it came to France in the first century, it was not named until the 1880s. Merlot was originally used only for blending, as it is soft and compliant, very useful in softening other Bordeaux wines like Cabernets. Recently in California and Chile it became popular as a 100% varietal wine. Merlot tends to be easier to grow in a variety of soil conditions and is harvested earlier in the year than Cabernet. Although most Merlots are made to be drunk earlier, there are many with complexities of a Cabernet. Flavors of plum, black cherry, violet, chocolate and orange pair well with rich, red pasta dishes, hearty chicken dishes, and any beef combination that you fancy. The perfect match of course is chocolate. Not only does the chocolate compliment the wine and vice-versa, but the essence of both flavors linger eternally.
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Cabernet Sauvignon:
Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely planted and significant among the five dominant varieties in France’s Bordeaux region, as well as the most successful red wine produced in California. Though it was thought to be an ancient variety, recent genetic studies at U.C. Davis have determined that Cabernet Sauvignon is actually the hybrid offspring of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Sauvignon berries are small with black, thick and very tough skin. This toughness makes the grapes fairly resistant to disease and spoilage and able to withstand some autumn rains with little or no damage. It is a mid to late season ripener. These growth characteristics, along with its flavor appeal have made Cabernet Sauvignon one of the most popular red wine varieties worldwide.
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