Monte Rio by Patrick Cappiello

Let's Take It Back to the Old Skool...

Lend me a moment of your time for this one...

I first met Patrick Cappiello back in 2012 on a trip to Bordeaux.  I had just left 56 Degree Wine and was now working for an importer of great classified growth Bordeaux and along with a crew of other NYC sommeliers, we toured the region from tip to tail.  Patrick was (and still is) a magnetic personality...tatooed everywhere and with a swagger that one doesn't necessarily think of with a sommelier.  In short, he's real.  Like it or not, what you see is what you get and I appreciated that.  In subsequent years, he opened up his own restaurants (Pearl & Ash, Rebelle) and I had opportunity to visit them.  He was always gracious and really knows hospitality.  In addition, he has been a champion of domestic wines too.  Of course, he loves the classics...but Patrick was always opining about his friend Pax Mahle and the great Syrah's that he was crafting in California.

Now he and Pax have joined together to craft Monte Rio Wines, which are a throw back to the old skool style of California wines.  Tasting through a lineup of them, I was super impressed.  No high octane offerings here...just a stunningly good Zinfandel at 13% alcohol, done with carbonic maceration and 100% whole cluster fermention from organically tended vines in Lodi.  What does that mean in terms of flavor?  Well it means that this has beautiful pure fruit with medium body and waves of black cherry, forest, herbs, pomegranate and plum with superb acidity keeping the wine lively and  fresh.  It reminded me of an old bottle of Inglenook Zin that I had many years ago that was  mind blowing.  

This wine is arriving tomorrow, Friday Oct 2nd and is fairly limited.  Get yours today and let's take it back to the Old Skool!