The Grape: Found in the Southern Rhone, There Cinsaut is most often found as component of Rhône blends and Rose. The grape has big clusters of olive shaped large juicy berries, Color is light purple. The grape has lush sweet fruit flavors, small seeds and soft tannin.
The Vineyard One of my best discoveries was 29 years ago when I found Red Bench Vineyard hidden on the western bench of Dry Creek. Head pruned (not trellised) cinsaut vines grow there in red, dusty clay, non-irrigated (dry farmed), soil. Red Bench Vineyard is just over an acre of now 65 year old cinsaut vines. Old dry farmed vines like these yield a balanced crop of lush fruity grapes. This small single vineyard has produced cinsaut grapes exclusively for my Frick Cinsaut wines for all these years.
The Wine: The original 100% varietal Cinsaut was pioneered by Frick in 1989. The Cinsaut grape has a fruit character of cherry, strawberry, plum and raspberry as tasted in this wine. This vintage has complex earthy characteristics attributed to natural wild yeast fermentation. Sometimes described as "old world" style.
Drink now to 2026. Only 279 cases produced.
Serve with: a favorite with turkey, bean salad, cambozola cheese, pasta al pesto, BBQ chicken, peanut butter & jelly sandwich, chicken fried steak, pad thai, halibut, squab, quail, fried catfish, guinea fowl, duck breast, margarita pizza, filet steak, salami & cheese
Bill Frick
Red Bench