Philosophy:
At Kuleto, blocks and varieties are harvested in the order that they ripen. Nothing unusual there. But instead of waiting for enough of a particular variety to ripen fully for the sake of having a pure tank or lot, we combine whatever fruit happens to be perfectly ripe at the moment. While co-fermentation of different varieties has not been the default protocol in the New World, it is intuitive and natural. It’s also the genesis of our multi-varietal blends.
Curious Blends:
Our blends are in essence three distinct interpretations of red wine. One Rhone style, one classic and Bordeaux-like, the other ‘Cal-Ital’. Beyond showcasing terroir and varieties, they give our winemaker, John Clews, a chance to express his own artistic vision of these three styles. By mixing grapes from different locations, John can create wines that are deep, lush, complex and wonderfully individualistic.
Frog Prince:
Depending on where and how grape varieties are grown, they can express themselves in a myriad of ways. When selecting those vineyard blocks or rows or vines that might be appropriate for the Frog Prince blend, we look for the more subtle characteristics of the varieties, e.g. fresh fruits versus cooked, red fruits versus blue or black, a bit less alcohol, a bit more acid, and perhaps a bit of dried herbs. In many cases, the different varieties are fermented together to create something wholly unique. The 2016 Frog Prince puts it all together in a classic Old World style wine. Aromas of raspberry, ripe cherry and dried herbs entice your senses. The nose leads into the palate filled with layer upon layer of red fruit. A vigorous acidity carries throughout, and is further accentuated by firm tannins that taper off hand in hand on the finish. This classic wine pairs with a juicy grilled steak.
- COMPOSITION:
- 27% Malbec
- 19% Petite Sirah
- 19% Cabernet Franc
- 16% Tempranillo
- 10% Zinfandel
- 9% Merlot
- AGING: 16 months in French, American and Hungarian Oak, 33% new
- ALCOHOL: 14.5%
- pH: 3.94
- TA: 5.8 g/L
- ** Only 1 in Stock **