Sebastiani

2007 Secolo

Sonoma Red Blend

$35.00 a bottle

A few weeks ago I was invited out for a private tasting at Sebastiani Winery in Sonoma, California by James Marshall Berry @Winotone on twitter. I think I literally almost tried everything they had that day. James so generously spoiled me with their flights of Chardonnay, Pinot, Zinfandel, and Cabernert Sauvignon all from Sonoma County. Sebastiani’s wine making all began nine years after Samuele Sebastiani emigrated from Tuscany in 1895. As a stone mason he worked long hours to save enough money to buy land in Sonoma County to make wine. Sebastiani Winery was the only Sonoma County winery to stay operating through prohibition, making wine in small amounts for medical and religious uses. Today Sabastiani is operating under Bill Foley an entrepreneur who acquired the winery in 2008. The grounds of Sebastiani are beautiful and I found they make some pretty great wines as well. I was very excited to find a new, great Sonoma County red blend to blog. Sebastiani’s “Secolo” meaning century, is a bordeaux-style blended red wine. This 2007 Secolo is a pefect blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petite Verdot, 8% Malbec, 8% Merlot, and 1% Petite Sirah. Secolo has huge aromas of blackberries and blue berries with a hint of coco. First tasting dark berries, lots of spice and finishing with a musty light chocolate cherry. A very rich bold blend complex in flavors but very surprisingly elegant. Definitely a great example of an awesome Sonoma County Cabernet blend. This wine was given 92 points in June of 2011 from Wine Spectator. This bottle is great to enjoy now but has the potential to really improve with time if you are disciplined enough to wait. If venturing to Sonoma, be sure to make a stop at Sebastiani Winery to taste their wine and maybe you’ll be lucky enough to meet James Marshall Berry @Winotone.