While our barrel-fermented style is a departure from classic Roero-grown, Italian made Arneis, there are plenty of varietal hallmarks grown into this fruit. Amateurs and ardent admirers of Arneis alike will note aromas and flavors of nutmeg, honeycomb, ripe pear, toasted almonds, and nutmeg. The creamy soft texture can be attributed to our sur lie style barrel aging.

Notes of Chambord liqueur preponderate the nose, letting through hints of tobacco and tea leaf. A full and rich entrance transitions to a robust mid-palate with a lingering, vibrant finish.

Ripe raspberry interplays with darker notes of boysenberry and baking cocoa on the nose. Full flavors of cherry, brown sugar, and coffee serve as a base for more subtle mineral and iron nuances. Generous acids provide mid-palate structure leading to a long, round finish.

Blueberry, cool mint, and verbena spiritedly play with one another on the nose and the palate. The rich, deep fruit  entry and herbaceous mid-palate are complemented by barrel spice and caramel with a smooth and supple finish.

Aromas of wild fruits such as cherry and fresh strawberry are backed by hints of nutmeg and violet. Fresh, bright, and tart, Cinsault’s refreshing acidity lingers on the palate and lends itself to (lightly chilled) to summer sunsets on the back porch.

Smaller berries this vintage resulted in a more darkly colored wine with concentrated aromas/flavors. Aromas of cola and earthy agave drift alongside notes of peppery spice. Wild berries, smoked agave, and rose petals fit neatly into a plush, rounded framework, full mid-palate, and focused finish.

Weighty Syrah anchors this blend with aromas of plum pudding, complemented by delightful notes of licorice root and dried herbs. A velvety soft entry fills out with flavors of boysenberry, white pepper, and savory herbs, followed by subtle structure and lingering juiciness.

Spiced, mulled plum intermingles with perfumed violets on the nose. The aromatics beautifully complement flavors of vanilla bean, cherry, and dark chocolate. This rich, weighted fruit is balanced by acidity that lifts the mid-palate to provide layered complexity and a long, lingering finish.

Dark cherry, graham wafers, and leather provide bouquet intrigue from the onset. This is a wine that demands pause and reflection. One moment it reveals red-fruited notes, juicy acids, and tannin from Sangiovese; at another moment, this wine offers up cassis and riper, dark fruits from the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Much like we saw in the 2014 vintage, the 2015 Nebbiolo is showing much more complexity and varietal typicity as the vines mature and the unique trellising system and vine maintenance practices required at Ciel du Cheval begin to pay off. This wine is very active on the nose and on the palate, moving from bright cherry and rose petal, to deep molasses and earthy, mossy notes. Poised tannins lend an agility to the mouth-feel that ebb and flow around the fruit for a full, yet focused effect.

Brilliant aromas of raspberry, black tea and rose petals/perfume are accompanied by the classic earthy nuances often expressed by Pinot noir. Forward flavors of ripe cherry, vanilla bean, and English Breakfast tea show the depth and development that typify the 2016 vintage. The round creamy texture with its full mid-palate and juicy, long finish make this wine easy to drink, with or without food.

The naturally uneven ripening of this varietal leads to a bright red, zesty flavor typically associated with early season fruit, in tandem with the über-rich and sweet flavors of late season fruits such as dates and dried figs. Notice aromas of lavender, tobacco, cedar, and strawberry jam, followed by a rich palate of dried figs, dates, and exotic spices with a soft, voluminous mouth feel and long finish.

Fermented in stainless steel and not permitted to go through malolactic fermentation, this wine is fresh, bright, and juicy, with flavors and aromas of watermelon, rhubarb, strawberries, and cherry Jolly Rancher.

This outlier of our traditional Sangiovese program, both in fruit source and in what has become our house style, is a rare and limited production. Greeting you with aromas of black cherry cola and raspberries, the heady fruit nose gives way to brighter notes of Seville/bitter orange zest. Cherry pie filling, juicy raspberry, and sweet vanilla flavors are accented with an earthy nuance of iron and mineral. Given the lean aromatic introduction, the counter balance of a full entry with a rounded & weighty mid-palate, comes as a surprise. Finishes long and juicy.

Deeply scented aromas of wild mountain huckleberries and chocolate are framed with meaty nuances and hints of eucalyptus. Gushing flavors of blueberry, boysenberry, and huckleberry dominate with hints of char and sweet spice, while the silky soft entry and bright mid-palate balloon to a weighty full finish.

Forward aromas of blackberry and Bing cherry flow gracefully into nuances of cassis and herbs, extended by hints of green olive, barrel char and spice. A soft, rounded mid-palate cedes, almost imperceptibly, to roasted coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and fine, dusty tannins, evoking a more classic Bordeaux-style finish.

Abundant aromas of apricot and honeydew melon carry nuances of vernal white flowers, while flavorful notes of tangerine, brioche and mineral pass in an unassuming yet stalwart procession. Creamy and soft up front, a nervy/crisp backbone parallels the long, full mid-palate and extended finish.

Enjoy an assortment of Cana’s Feast Italian family wines as we move into the crisp Pacific Northwest winter. Our pack includes:

• 2 bottles 2016 Sangiovese Grosso
• 2 bottles 2015 Primitivo
• 2 bottles 2016 Bricco Red

Retail Value: $190