Gather good friends, gourmet food, and some organic, biodynamic, sustainable wine from the Magnanimus Wine Group. We tried two of their domestic & divine wines, Mendocino Farms 2004 Redvine Series and Old River Cellars 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, that will surely be a hit at any soirée.
About Magnanimus Wine Group
The Magnanimus Wine Group came out of a common awareness of the opportunity to combine progressive, sustainable wine growing and making with the legacy of Mendocino’s eco-friendly traditions. Each of the principals has years of experience working in the green wine business honing their knowledge at leading biodynamic, sustainable and organic farms. Ultimately, they came together to steer a company dedicated to producing authentic and distinct wines that reflect not only a sense of place, but also the highest standards of quality and environmental stewardship.
Winemaker's notes - The name of this proprietary blend comes from the soil type common to the two source vineyards, Heart Arrow and Fairbairn Ranches, set along the upper Russian River watershed in Mendocino County, California. Both of these ranches are Demeter certified Biodynamic.
The 2004 Redvine Series consists of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petite Sirah, and 10% Syrah. Each vineyard block is hand-harvested. The Grapes were fermented, barrel-aged separately in select French oak for 14 months and then blended prior to bottling. The Cabernet Sauvignon provides rich flavors of black cherry, plum and important tannin materials that are softened by the addition of Syrah. The Petite Syrah adds ripe black fruits, density and is highlighted by all three varietal contributions to its complex aromatic structure.
Our review - Don't be fooled by the low-key label, this wine really stands out. It features distinct notes of black cherry and plum along with a subtle spiciness as its dark garnet color conjures. It is a very smooth, drinkable, food-friendly wine that pairs well with many plates.
Winemaker's notes - This medium bodied Cabernet Sauvignon is produced of grapes from the Ponderosa Vineyard located at 1900 foot elevation along the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The high elevation vineyard site yields fruit with unique tannin and flavor profiles that contribute to compelling notes of dark fruits and earth in this well balanced wine.
The 2005 Cabernet is comprised of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Cabernet Franc and is barrel aged in high quality new French oak barrels for 8 months prior to blending and bottling to provide a well-structured complex pallet.
Produced from Organically Grown Grapes of the Ponderosa Vineyard, certified Organic by CCOF since 1994.
Our review - This wine is truly a gem, deep ruby in color, it's harmonious, bright & lively with a lovely linger. The pleasing aromas have a hint of toasty vanilla oak. But be forewarned, you'll barrel through this bottle before you know it - it's that good!
Exclusive Discount
Enjoy 15% off all wines at the Magnanimus online wine shop until December 31, 2009, use promo code OrganicGurus2009. Their gift packs are perfect for the greenies on your gift list!
Source: Magnanimus Wine Group
