A few weeks ago, on Facebook, I wrote about an exciting new winery in Santa Ynez Valley, Habit, and three of their amazing exciting wines. It started with Rose, continued with Chenin Blanc and ended with their sublime Loire like Cabernet Franc.
Honestly, it was hard to decide between the Chenin and the Cab Franc which I enjoyed more, as they were so different than the usual Santa Barbara Rhone or Burgundian style wines I've gotten used to. I mean, the Loire style on the Central Coast? That hasn't been really seen in years. Brian Babcock played a bit with Cab Franc and Daniel Gehrs was a master with Chenin Blanc but those days were long gone.
So when I stumbled onto their 2014 Red Blend, I just had to feed my Habit. I mean a Bordeaux blend in Santa Barbara.....some have been masterfully made while others have been insipid plonk. And, sadly, usually nothing in between.m
This wine though was off the hook. Big, dark purple color, inky black almost, with aromas of kirsch, plum, tobacco, cigar box and cherries. To me, it almost had the body of a Portuguese Garrifiera RA from 1982 that I will never forget and never have again.
The Habit Red Wine is a gem. It has body, gusto and lots of fruit all wrapped up in a gentle layer of tannin that will let it age gracefully....if I can keep my hands of the other bottle......
Comments