Sunce Winery & Vineyard, Rosa del Perú 2017, Sandy Lane Vineyard – Historic Vines, San Francisco Bay, California

Tasting Note: A bright, tart, easy-going red wine that tickles the palate.

Medium-intensity ruby in color, this wine has a medium-plus-intensity nose of black plum, red cherry, cranberry, blossom, fig and clove baking spice.

On the palate the dry, medium-bodied wine has medium-plus-intensity flavors of tart, red-and-black fruit suggested on the nose supported by medium-plus acidity and medium tannin.

The wine is balanced and relatively straightforward in flavor with a juicy quality reminiscent in some ways of gamay.

Bottle Note: Sunce is a family winery located in the Russian River Valley appellation of Sonoma County – specializing in small artisan lots of vineyard designated varietal wine and classic blends. This exquisite rare grape was first introduced to the New World by Franciscan and Jesuit friars in 1520 and was later planted in California in 1778. This historic, Spanish varietal known by many names (Listán Prieto, Negra Corriente, Negra Criolla and mission grape) was the sacrament wine – truly inspirational in its old-world charm with a nose of dried figs and orange marmalade, boasting black cherries, smoky plum, and baking chocolate, tinged in coffee and almonds on the palate. Serve with lighter fare and salads. Try it with mushrooms in a lime vinaigrette, nuts, almonds and olive pastes, grilled asparagus and cream soups. Also good with mature dry cheeses. Only 8 barrels made.