Bruised strawberry, juniper berry, crushed dark cherry. Citrus peel, damp earth, red plum flesh. Crunchy boysenberry, fresh fig, and dusty currants seamlessly converge with wet moss, star anise, and sarsaparilla in brilliantly wild and earthy display. Magnificently raw organic funk emerges to provide complex overtones of duck feathers, rawhide, and dank cellar that sing in tune with floral hints of dried lavender and trampled violet. Fresh basil, thyme, cedar, and fennel reveal an incredibly nuanced herbal edge lovingly bolstered by a dusting of lifted spice from cardamom, cumin, and white pepper. Soft clay, iron, and spring rain round out the attack with a blast of pungent soil-laden delight ensuring that its savory, gamey, and natural side is expressed wholeheartedly with unmanipulated authenticity. Loveably funky, playfully weird, and unquestionably charming; featuring a delicate, balanced, and restrained palate that remains as delicious as it is distinct. Medium minus in body with soft yet elevated tannin and bright acidity. This 2018 Estate St. Laurent by Ricci Vineyards is an outstandingly esoteric, adventurous, and captivating red from Carneros. 

A rare dark-skinned variety thought to be native to Austria, St. Laurent is a unique and intriguing grape often described as a more savory alternative to Pinot Noir. This bottling, crafted by Ricci Vineyards using St. Laurent sourced from their estate on the Sonoma side of Carneros, brilliant captures the delightfully herbal and ferral funk that defines this distinct and loveable grape. While it does exude plenty of natural berry-focused fruit this wine is absolutely packed with gorgeous earthy and gamey complexity, so much so that at first it comes across as something closer to a terroir-focused old world wine rather than a wine from Sonoma. For lovers of the atypical and unconventional this offering is an absolute must-try! Awesome.