2019 Cruse Wine Co. Monkey Jacket
North California, USA
A tangy, chilled out Californian red in the mould of an aromatic Beaujolais.
$45.00
Out of Stock
Really fan-bloody-tastic to sip on. Or smash down. Can do both speeds.
Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)
About the Wine
Mouthwatering, drink-soon red blend from the northern climes of California, made predominantly of Valdiguie. What's that I hear? It used to be known, wrongly, as Napa Gamay, but it does show many of the crunchy, red berry, floral, graphitey characters as good fresh Beaujolais.
Carignan, Petite Sirah and Tannat are also in the blend, which includes about 20% whole bunch. Coming in at just 12.5% alcohol, it is the antithesis of most blocky, unctuous Californian reds.
A monkey jacket was the historic jacket worn by sailors and organ grinders (with their pet monkeys).
About Cruse Wine Co
Michael Cruse, a native of North California, launched Cruse Wine Co in 2013, after success with his cult sparkling wine Ultramarine.
He is still rightly renowned for making great sparklings under the Cruse label, as Michael is a believer that sparkling and petillant natural wines are the true lens into the vineyard and its place.
His interest has now shifted however, to include rare and wonderful alternative varieties such as Valdiguie, Tannat, Carignan and St Laurent.
The Monkey Jacket is his signature wine, despite its modest price!
Petaluma, California
From the Producer
Our taste of Northern California in 2019, this blend is 53% Valdiguié with the remainder being old vine Carignan, a red field blend, Petite Sirah, and Tannat. It is a wine of impressive vibrancy and brightness on the nose, but with a palate of late summer in California, sunny, dry, and serious.The wine showcases the synergy of the diverse terroirs that make up Northern California while still remaining accessible enough to be a daily drinker
Blend : Validigue, Carignan, Petite Sirah, Tannat
Drink Until : 2026
Bottle Size : 750ml
Cruse Wine Co. Winery, California
Critic Reviews
"Cruse Wine Co shines bright out of Petaluma in California. They do interesting things, well, with a considered but hands off approach in cellar while mining great, established vineyards in various bits of CA, USA. Sparkling wine has been their metier, but other varieties and styles have come forth as potent and interesting. This is mostly the grape valdigue, though carignan, syrah and a field blend of other grapes are also found inside. From northern California here. It’s a charismatic wine, red currants, cranberry drink, anise, fennel, brambly black currants and woody spice all conspire in a crisp, tense and refreshing red that feels somewhere in the zone of medium weight, or just shy of it. Beautiful filigree of tannin, succulent texture, excellent finish. It’s a perfumed wine too. Really fan-bloody-tastic to sip on. Or smash down. Can do both speeds." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)
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