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CASE PRICE = $22.99 per bottle (add 12+ quantity to your basket)

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About This Wine:

The newly released cuvée is the 23rd edition of Le Cigare Volant, and it certainly shows the family flavor profile of red fruits, herbal, and earthy notes in a savory, medium-bodied package. Bright ruby red with a pale purplish rim, it offers cherry aromas with a bit of spice, menthol, sassafras, and black pepper. On the palate there is fresh cherry, pomegranate, and red bramble fruit. The wine is peppery and lively with good acidity around an earthy, savory core.

The syrah is principally sourced from Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Maria Valley, which produces the closest analogue we have found to a Northern Rhône syrah—tannic and meaty in the lower registers; peppery, fruitful, and delicately floral in the top, all the while showing great balance and harmony. A group of non-irrigated, centenarian Contra Costa vineyards has provided mourvèdre for Cigare for many years. Finally, a dollop of cinsault provides a very particular fragrance of flowers and aromatic herbs.

While the zesty and youthful '07 is excellent right now, aging it for 2-3 more years would be all to the good. We recommend a gentle decanting before consumption.

Vital Statistics
Varietal Blend: 60% grenache, 32% syrah, 4% mourvèdre, 4% cinsault
Appellation: Central Coast
TA: 6 g/L
pH: 3.62
Alcohol by Volume: 14.4%
Serving Temp: 55-60°F
Cellaring: Aged 20 months. Aging potential: 20+ years from release (September 2011)
Production: 3,009 cases

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