After a toast, he sipped the wine, and with his typical bright smile, turned to me and said, “This is delicious.” I was flattered. “Why do you make Carignan,” he then asked? An answer was hard to come by, so I changed the subject.

‘Vivid, rich aromas of roasted peanuts, butterscotch and toasted oak lead to ultraripe golden apple and marzipan flavors in this full-bodied, lush and soft wine. Its indulgent richness coats the taste buds and clings to the sides of the mouth for a lingering finish. 93 POINTS’ – Jim Gordon

Our Left Bank Red was another great idea from Tadeo. He proposed we make a wine from two low-elevation vineyards on our ranch — one Merlot and the other Cabernet Sauvignon — both of which are on the left bank of Conn Creek as it passes through our property on the way to Lake Hennessey.

For several years, winemaker Tadeo Borchardt made this wine relying on the fruit from a single vineyard in the Sierra foothills. Over time, though, he added a second source of grapes that have what he felt were similar characteristics.