2018 Cruse Wine Co. Monkey Jacket
2018 Cruse Wine Co. Monkey Jacket
Region: Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, and Suisun Valley < CA
Grapes: Valdiguié, Tannat, Syrah, old-vine Carignan + a field blend
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming (85% of fruit is certified), 20% whole cluster; fermented and aged in concrete; bottled unfined/unfiltered with minimal SO2; 12.8% ABV
Winemaker: Michael Cruse
NEW VINTAGE ALERT!
Bringing back Monkey Jacket from Michael Cruse, another young Cali producer who doesn’t own vineyards, and is constantly on the hunt for organic grape sources all over the Bay Area. So, it’s no wonder that he’s innovating and making wine with all kinds of random grapes. Which totally works with his philosophy of making wine for daily drinking, not wine for cellaring. Like this insanely delicious blend, which is 51% Valdiguie from across Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, and Suisun, plus Carignan, Syrah, and a North Coast field blend that gets a bit of whole cluster for lift and freshness.
Monkey Jacket (named after a type of jacket worn by sailors, hence the sailboat art) is always the crowd pleaser, the bottle that goes fast in a crowd -- although you might want to stash this tasty nugget away to drink yourself, without sharing a drop, even if you aren’t normally a greedy pig. The 2018 vintage is still medium-bodied and very approachable, but has more of a tannic grip than usual (thanks to the Tannat), with dark, crunchy fruit, tart cranberry and violets. It feels very masculine and serious, making a perfect match for a burger or something meaty.
Couldn't load pickup availability
