Los Chuchaquis 'Bandido' Red Wine, San Benito 2020 (750 ml)
Los Chuchaquis 'Bandido' Red Wine, San Benito 2020 (750 ml)
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Among the rarest of varieties planted in California, Negrette according to legend, brought to Cyprus by the Knights Templar eventually making its way to France’s Gaillac. From there, Négrette travelled west to Fronton, which today remains the stronghold. In fac,t it's grown in almost no place else except for a couple of spots in California including this the organic plot Chucahquis get their form in the san benito valley.
Though not from Fronton the Los Chuchaquis Bandido retains the charms that make wine geeks go crazy for negrette. Its fruity and floral characteristics, along with a natural spice makes it not too dissimilar from Pinot Noir but with a sunnier disposition. The blend is mostly Negrette (86%) coming from the varietally diverse and organically farmed Stiletto Vineyard in Tres Pinos, CA It's the same spot where they get a bit of the cabernet pfeffer that also goes into the blend. Zinfandel and a bit of Albarino form the Sierra Foothills round out the wine.
The Negrette was picked by hand on September 11th 2020 and was fermented whole cluster in an old redwood fermentor. That lasted three weeks with a once daily pump over before being pressed off to age in old barrels for 10 months on the lees. It was then racked and blended a month before being bottled on August 14th 2021.
The Los Chucahquis Bandido is so easy to love with explosive aromatics of purple blossom and bouncy red fruit. The palate is light but with textural density that is washed away by quartzy acidity. There is a lot of energy and a bit of tension with a dusty savory spice that reminds you of the hot and arid climate this comes from. Charmingly rustic yet has a depth and structure that belies the talented folks behind the bottle.
Though not from Fronton the Los Chuchaquis Bandido retains the charms that make wine geeks go crazy for negrette. Its fruity and floral characteristics, along with a natural spice makes it not too dissimilar from Pinot Noir but with a sunnier disposition. The blend is mostly Negrette (86%) coming from the varietally diverse and organically farmed Stiletto Vineyard in Tres Pinos, CA It's the same spot where they get a bit of the cabernet pfeffer that also goes into the blend. Zinfandel and a bit of Albarino form the Sierra Foothills round out the wine.
The Negrette was picked by hand on September 11th 2020 and was fermented whole cluster in an old redwood fermentor. That lasted three weeks with a once daily pump over before being pressed off to age in old barrels for 10 months on the lees. It was then racked and blended a month before being bottled on August 14th 2021.
The Los Chucahquis Bandido is so easy to love with explosive aromatics of purple blossom and bouncy red fruit. The palate is light but with textural density that is washed away by quartzy acidity. There is a lot of energy and a bit of tension with a dusty savory spice that reminds you of the hot and arid climate this comes from. Charmingly rustic yet has a depth and structure that belies the talented folks behind the bottle.
