Each vintage, Boise winemaker Melanie Krause and her husband, Joe Schnerr, offer one blended wine within their core tier at Cinder Wines. That they didn’t create a proprietary name for their Bordeaux blend doesn’t make you guess about the components. The warm 2013 vintage allowed Krause to boost the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (67%) from previous years. Merlot (19%) is always a reliable building block in Idaho, and Malbec continues to make its way into the blend. It showed well upon release, earning a gold medal at the Idaho Wine Competition, and time in the bottle continues bring rewards. Classic aromas of pencil shavings, dark plum, Montmorency cherry and eucalyptus lead to flavors of black currant and plums with blueberry acidity and a pinch of oregano in the finish. They’ve nearly tripled production from the 2012 vintage, and suggested pairings include Kobe beef, Idaho potatoes with truffle oil and Snake River caviar.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 600 cases
Alcohol: 13.9%
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