ArtisanWineDepot.com

Notes from the Winemaker:

Ritual has become our go-to wine for parties, cocktails, meetings, dinner, lunch, breakfast and any occasion we forgot to mention! This stuff is just the nectar of the vine. The wine hails from warm sites within Napa Valley with mostly shale sub-soils, and it shows in the wine’s powerful and intense finish. Aged for 10 months in 30% new French Oak barrels. 295 cases produced. 46% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache, 18% Syrah, 6% Petite Sirah.

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It has a huge nose of red and black fruits with licorice, spice and flowers. The texture is beautifully lush and smooth, letting the flavors of vanilla-soaked berries penetrate the taster’s senses.

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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"Nearly as good as the beautiful 2007 released earlier this year, the 2008 Ritual (a blend of Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah, and Petite Sirah) exhibits aromas of earth, flowers, blue and black fruits, meat, and kirsch. This supple, fleshy, medium to full-bodied red is meant to be drunk over the next several years. This tiny estate has a small production, but the quality of its wines is very high."