Rosé, March 2015 - Dragonette Rosé, Santa Barbara, 2014

It’s becoming a thing… We are eagerly anticipating the Dragonette Rosé release yearly, and it seems like this year is better than before! In time for spring, Dragonette fashioned a Happy Canyon (AVA) rosé that is comprised of 70% Grenache, 27% Mourvedre and 3% Syrah, native yeast fermented, exhibiting fresh-picked red berries, citrus peel and minerals. This year the wine shows a little more weight due to time increased time-in-barrel, while still displaying refreshing acidity that makes for a more dynamic rosé. It’s crisp, delicious and could be the perfect way to kick off a long evening of porch-sitting and spinning records, or to accompany a cheese board.

Merlot, March 2015 - Cane & Fable 395 Merlot

Merlot has had a bad reputation since the movie Sideways, and that is far too long for us at Art du Vin. A relatively easy-to-plant grape—it is cultivated all over the world—bearing many inconsistent examples, but it is a “noble” varietal, after all, and the Cain & Fable 395 exemplifies its blue-blooded roots and results. A collaboration between two Central Coast winemakers—Curt Schalclin and Andrew Jones—crafted a blend of 84% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Tempranillo all sourced from Paso Robles. The wine was aged in oak barrique (25% new) for 15 months, lending an alluring sweet spice to the roasted plums, blueberry compote and black tea notes on a long and seductive finish. Steak anyone?