2009 Matchbook “Tinto Rey” Red Wine (Dunnigan Hills)

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2009 Matchbook “Tinto Rey” Red Wine (Dunnigan Hills)

$16.99 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Here’s another wine family with a long and winding road, the Giguieres, owners of Crew Wine Company, comprised of four labels:  Matchbook, Mossback, Chasing Venus and Sawbuck (all of which have been on the shelves at Carpe Vino).  This is the second venture for the family, which launched R.H. Phillips in 1984 before being listed on NASDAQ in 1995.  In 1997, the Toasted Head label was born, and that really changed everything.  In 2001, the business was sold to the wine conglomerate, Vincor International.  Crew Wine Company was formed in 2005, and here we go again!

The Matchbook label is a reference to two of the Giguiere brothers’ fascination with matches, fire and burning stuff.  There are eight wines in the series, and the Tinto Rey is arguably the tastiest. . .made from fruit in Dunnigan Hills, not far from Woodland of all places.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Tinto Rey means Red King. Tempranillo is the king of Spanish red wines and one of the most important red varietals in our Matchbook vineyard in the Dunnigan Hills. The Spanish varietals Tempranillo and graciano contribute spicy red berry fruit flavors; ayrah adds rich flavors of black cherry and blueberry; the spicy cedar and tobacco notes are from the cool-weather cabernet sauvignon.”

Wine Advocate Review (91 points):  It reveals a rich, full mouthfeel in addition to abundant black and blue fruits intermixed with graphite, spice box, forest floor and roasted herbs. Cotes du Rhone-like, with a lot of finesse and a richer, more fruit-driven mouthfeel, it should be drunk over the next several years.

Matchbook Wines, which is part of the Crew Wine Co., has produced some thrilling value-priced wines under the capable hands of winemaker Dan Cederquist. I was knocked out by two of the red wines (Tinto Rey & Tempranillo).”

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