Includes 2 bottles each of:

2018 Thundercloud, Red Wine, California
We’re dreamers at heart, and if you’re anything like us, you spend your days trying to create and capture lightning. That mystical burst of brilliance that only appears when the clouds are looming overhead. Thundercloud is about enduring and absorbing the dark and dreary parts of life and turning it into something magical...lightning!

Thundercloud sounded like a Roger Moore James Bond flick to us, so we wanted to capture something vintage, yet iconic, for the label. We found a vintage photograph of a cloudy sky and emblazoned it with a copper-gold foil lightning bolt. It looks killer, but the wine inside is even better. Loads of dark fruit cracked black pepper, and fresh-cut herbs on the nose give way to a rush of blackberry and baking spice laced with dark chocolate and espresso. It's beautifully textured with velvety tannins and a finish that could go on for days. 

Let's talk winemaking. Syrah/Viognier co-ferment, anyone? You might recognize this killer Côte-Rôtie (Northern Rhône) combo from the über-limited release,  Cool Confusion. Keeping it punk rock, part of that wine still lives on in this blend. The Syrah from Shake Ridge Ranch and Snows Crossing Vineyard in the Sierra Foothills is picked earlier to highlight the savory and peppery side of the grape. The volcanic soils from this area also impart a lot of minerality into these wines. The Calistoga portion of the fruit from Frediani Vineyard ripens further and brings out all the dark fruit elements into the final blend.
 

2018 SRR, Red Wine, Sierra Foothills
Following in the footsteps of Las Californias, SRR is a Tempranillo/Graciano blend that’s got us all shook up.

If you’ve been following along, our love for Spanish Rioja is no secret and Tempranillo is something we just can’t quit. Full in body, with the perfect amount of tannin, and juicy red fruit flavors, Tempranillo is really fun to work with. Especially when paired with Graciano, another Spanish grape we use to add deep, dark color and beautiful aromatics.

So SRR? Shake Ridge Ranch, where we get our Tempranillo from. This world-famous vineyard in Amador County is about as legit as they come. Owned by famed viticulturist Anne Kraemer, this legendary vineyard sits 1,800 feet above sea level and soaks in cool air from the Sierras to extend the growing season, which helps our Tempranillo retain acidity and texture. SRR was aged for 16 months in neutral oak. This longer aging was done to soften the big, bold tannins that Tempranillo is known for. With a bit of time in the barrel, the tannins are fully ripe and frame this wine beautifully. The bold fruit commands palate, with incredible layers and complexity – we're talking mixed berries, chocolate-covered coffee beans, vanilla, and nutmeg...want to try some yet?