BANSHEE WINES bansheewines.com

Banshee ‘Mordecai’

California – United States 2014

Banshee Wines was founded by three friends (Steve Graf, Baron Ziegler and Noah Dorrance) from the Midwest and East Coast who shared a passion for wine and a lifelong dream of owning their own winery. Their fascination with wine started early in life. While their peers were drinking Milwaukee's Best, they had an affinity towards collecting European wines and hosting dorm room wine tastings. Post-college, each pursued a career

in the wine industry, ranging from importing wines, to winemaking, to distribution and sales. When their paths ultimately converged in San Francisco, they shared many meals, bottles of wine, and laughs with one another.

Individually they aspired to start their own wine project of sorts. In 2009 Noah was working at a winery and noticed hundreds of barrels gathering dust destined for $50-$60 bottles of Pinot Noir. Cash-crunched because of the recession, the winery was having trouble getting the raw product into bottles. In a “confluence of skill and timing,” Dorrance negotiated a good deal and they snapped up 20 barrels, selling out within two months.

Helping lead the attack on societal forces is famed California winemaker Ross Cobb of Hirsch Vineyard, Flowers and his namesake winery Cobb fame. Robb has friends in places that even the devious plans of the 'Banshee Boys' couldn't quite infiltrate. It took a man of principle to work with the three-headed monster and bring order.

2014 was another dry year in California but the lack of water was not altogether bad for vineyards. Yields were down, but the concentration and quality of the fruit was incredible. For the 2014 blend, Cabernet, Syrah and Zinfandel lead the pack, giving Mordecai its hallmark full-bodied weight and density. With less fruit available overall, these headliners did most of the work, adding bits of chocolatey Merlot, tarry Carignan and spicy Cabernet Franc and Cinsault to round out the blend. The components were aged for 15 months in a combination of new, second and neutral French barriques depending on their variety.

The 2014 Mordecai blend is reminiscent of some of the best hot and dry wine regions in Europe. Think ripe red and blue fruited Côtes du Rhônes with their scents of dried herbs and blackberry liqueur from wines grown on the black slates of the Priorat. But the wine remains distinctly California, with its comfortingly familiar wild summer berry plushness. Home is where the shade of the oak tree is just enough respite from the dry summer heat.

Composition Cabernet Sauvignon (35%, Napa - Sonoma) - Syrah (28%, Anderson Valley - Sonoma) - Zinfandel (22%, Dry Creek - Russian River) - Merlot (6%, Alexander Valley) - Carignan (4%, Mendocino) - Cabernet Franc (3%, Sonoma) - Cinsault (2%, Sonoma)

Tasting Notes Deep ruby. Expressive, spice-tinged aromas of cherry, black raspberry, violet and white pepper. Supple, spicy and pliant on the palate, showing good lift and clarity to its dark berry, spicecake and licorice flavors. Finishes with supple tannins, building spiciness and very good persistence.

Reviews None

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