Red Wine 689 Cellars Devil’s Candy 2018. The founders of 689 Cellars spent time travelling in Asia where they became fascinated by the special properties attributed to numbers in Chinese culture. For example, the number six is thought to represent flow and movement, helping us go through our lives with energy and success. The number eight has a distinctive symmetrical form, and thus references prosperity and unlimited potential, while the number nine is the most powerful number of all with links to permanence and longevity. One of the wines crafted by this auspicious wine cellar is Devil’s Candy, a rich and expressive Napa Valley red made from Zinfandel, Cabernet, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Charbono grapes. Fruit is sourced from selected sites in Calistoga, Oakville, St. Helena, Coombsville and Pope Valley, with each region giving different characteristics to the final blend. The young wine is aged in French oak barrels for 12 months before release to fully integrate all of the components and create a complex, polished wine. The powerful nose is bursting with dark cherries, cassis and ripe plums along with dried herbs, sunbaked earth and sweet spice. On the palate there’s a full body, firm tannins and a long finish seasoned with crushed dark berries, toasty oak, vanilla and hints of cedar and leather. An expressive and intense red blend that’s great to enjoy alongside chorizo, rich stews, pizza or tomato-based pasta dishes.
2018
Red Wine 689 Cellars Devil’s Candy 2018
Red Wine 689 Cellars Killer Drop 2018. The founders of 689 Cellars took inspiration from their travels in Asia to name their winery after these three numbers which are meant to bring luck according to ancient Chinese wisdom. Firstly, the number six is linked with happiness and positive flow, while the perfectly symmetrical form of the number eight suggests balance and unlimited potential. The final number, the number nine, appropriately signifies eternity and endurance, and is regarded as the luckiest of all the numbers. With such an auspicious name, it is no surprise that the wines of 689 Cellars have proved very popular. Killer Drop is their most ambitious wine so far, taking its name from the adrenaline rush you get when pushing your limits on the slopes or surfboard. Curtis and Kent source the grapes for Killer Drop from select vineyards in Napa Valley, Sonoma, the Sierra Foothills, Lodi and Mendocino. This punchy red features Grenache, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Zinfandel which are blended together and aged for ten months in French oak barrels. The result is a fruit-forward wine that exudes flavours and aromas of cassis, raspberries, and crushed blueberries. On the palate the dark berry character comes to the fore along with soft tannins and a well-rounded mouthfeel.
2018
Red Wine Acrobat Pinot Noir 2018. This Oregon Pinot is made by the Foley family who chose the name Acrobat to encapsulate their perfectly-balanced and poised wines. The family own several prime vineyards in the Willamette Valley, Umpqua Valley and Rogue Valley with fruit carefully blended from each site according to the character of each vintage. The grapes for this bottling come from the hills and valleys of Western Oregon where the cool nights and high elevation help to preserve plenty of freshness and aromatics in the finished wines. The fruit is ferments in stainless steel tanks before being transferred to French oak barrels for 7 months of ageing. The family use a small proportion of new barrels to add extra complexity and intense oaky notes to the cuvee. As soon as you pour out a glass you’ll notice the bright red fruit aromas of raspberries, pomegranate, strawberry and red cherry. The first sip reveals a medium body and ripe fruit flavours which are carefully balanced by a bright streak of acidity and a pure, clean finish. A great wine to serve alongside charcuterie, roast duck, or tomato-based pasta dishes as well as mature hard cheeses.
2018