Bright clear ruby with pink edges. A fairly shocking vanilla toast, herb and whisky nose with healthy wet asphalt and some of the deepest, darkest, richest plum-fruit I have ever smelled in a Sangiovese this side of something Super-imposed with Cabernet or Merlot. Daniel Gehrs makes a Sang somewhat like this in Santa Barbara County–definitely not as ripe, though.
This wine was a gift, and I was chuckling a bit as I opened it with some comfort food on a weeknight… I mean–come ON! It’s Rabbit Ridge ferchrissakes! Opened it, smelled it and was immediately impressed. Even more-so after tasting.
Fairly fat initially, but soon overwhelms the mouth, blossoming into piles of ripe, flowery fruit–think Gardenia and cheesecake with Comstock filling on top–and bitter, brier-driven tannins. A fair amount of heat in the finish. I think this thing’s over 15, but it carries it SO well. My opinion formed, I visited their website and found it to not be exactly one of their entry-level wines. I had no idea they had anything other. This will blow you away, it’s THAT good.
2013 RABBIT RIDGE Sangiovese Paso Robles 15.4
