Admit it — sometimes all of us pick a wine just because of its label.
Perhaps a singular or colorful design attracts the eye. Maybe a clever pun, such as Seven Deadly Zins, causes you to stop. Once in awhile a name just evokes a moment so well it lures you to the shelf.
Without pause, without contention you end up with a bottle of Wildhurst’s 2013 Porch Swing.
That’s right, Porch Swing — a neighborly blend of Zinfandel, Tempranillo, Petite Sirah and Syrah in proportions the folks at the Kelseyville vineyard prefer to keep under wraps.
It’s a wine perfect for pairing with, well, relaxation. Yes, it will happily accompany red meats or pasta. But it is equally suitable for stoop on a warm summer evening.
Ripe red cherry aromas lift from the glass, trailed by rose petals, earthy suede and soft milk chocolate. Beneath this lurks darker fruits — blueberry and plum — along with a neat resinous ping.
Tempranillo leads the way on the palate. Split plum and fresh cherries traipse across your senses, bolstered by a layer of roughly tanned leather. Syrah shows itself next, as the profile sinks into rich dried fruit and hearty loam.
Although nuanced layers emerge, Porch Swing does not settle into a contemplative corner. Rather it engages easily, reclining into subtle notes of licorice and dark jam.
It’s an enjoyable blend that still allows enthusiasts to prospect for traces of this, hints of that. The varietals each play a role. Even sparks of black peppercorn and acrid smoke from the Zinfandel make an appearance.
The winemaker at the time, Banyon Kirkendall, rested the wine in neutral oak barrels. The tamed wood builds upon the peppery note, but otherwise prefers not to interfere. Hence the compelling fruits on the nose and palate.
Yeah, you might reach for the Porch Swing because of its novel name. But you will return to the Wildhurst 2013 red blend for its comfortable, cultured, delightful nature.
Dave Faries can be reached at 900-2016
