Martha Stoumen 2021 'Benchlands' Red Blend

Origin: Mendocino County, California (USA)

Grape(s): 38% Zinfandel, 21% Petite Sirah, 17% Nero d'Avola, 16% Carignan, 4% Valdiguié, 4% Colombard

Tasting Notes: Our pool sipper, sun kisser, skinny dipper. This wine soaks up all the subtleties of summer play with a nod to the uplifted Mendocino benchlands where these vines are planted. Expect aromas of sarsaparilla and cherry cola, a buoyant texture, and notes of orange, cinnamon and tart cherry.

Martha's Notes: "The Benchlands blend was resurrected in 2019 (original vintage was 2015) as a result of a new vineyard we started leasing and farming in 2019 in Mendocino County called Chiarito-Ling. Deviating from the 2015 and 2019 vintages a smidgen, in 2020 we added some juicy carbonic Petite Sirah from both of our self-farmed vineyards. Our inspiration only grew deeper in 2021, when we co-fermented Carignan, Valdiguié, and Colombard from Ricetti Vineyard to further lean into this buoyant expression. This wine is inspired by the Italian farming tradition where grapes were planted on the poorer soils of the uplifted benchlands of Mendocino County (the rich valley floor soils were reserved for vegetables). All of the vineyards in this blend are planted on those uplifted benchlands."