Sunce Winery & Vineyard, Winemaker’s Reserve Les Trois Amis 2012, Sonoma County, California

Tasting Note: One of my favorite red blends of cabernet, merlot and sangiovese!

Deep-intensity ruby in color, this wine has an aromatic, medium-plus-intensity nose of bramble, black plum, graphite, blackberry, raspberry, red cherry and blossom with a hint of vanilla baking spice.

On the palate the dry, full-bodied red blend has medium-plus-intensity flavors suggested on the nose supported by velvety, medium-plus tannin.

The wine is balanced with a lengthy midpalate and medium-plus-finish.

A California red blend that tips its hat towards Italy.

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. Enjoy our unique Tuscan-style blend of 40% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 20% sangiovese, aged together for nearly three years in lightly toasted French oak. The merlot adds an element of velvety plum fruit with hints of clove and cinnamon, the cabernet sauvignon fortifies a dimension of concentrated blackberries backed in tannin and structure, while the sangiovese chimes in with flavors of lively cherries and notes of white pepper, offering length and silk to the finish. This wine is an excellent complement to hearty pasta dishes in a tomato-based sauces with meat or sausage. Also, pairs well with osso buco. Only 200 cases made. Frane Franicevic, winemaker.