Carica 2010 Sauvignon Blanc
‘Kick Ranch’ Vineyard, Sonoma County

Classically dry and crisp, Carica 2010 Sauvignon Blanc offers an aroma  characteristic  of this grape, with flavors of pear and guava.  Complexity derives from 10% of the wine having been fermented in French oak.   The grapes were harvested in late September due to the longer than average  growing season in 2010.  A single vineyard, Kick Ranch located in Sonoma County on the flank of Spring Mountain, supplied both the Sauvignon Blanc grapes (52%) and the related Sauvingon Blanc clone “Sauvignon Musque”(48%).  With plenty of bright acidity, this wine complements a range of foods, including spicy Asian and Latin-inspired dishes, poultry, seafood, and entree salads.

Notes on the wine Tasting Notes Carica 2010 Sauvignon Blanc

Carica 2008 Sauvignon Blanc
‘Kick Ranch’ Vineyard, Sonoma County

Limited quantity available for purchase online.

Notes on the wine Tasting Notes Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Carica 2010 Rhone-style Red Wine ‘ Siren’ G-S-M

This proprietary red wine is complex, brimming with red fruit flavors, and finishes with a seductive smoky note.  In the tradition of classic French blends of several winegrape varietals, the 2010 ‘Siren’ combines Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre.

Carica’s Syrah, a single-vineyard wine from Sonoma County’s Kick Ranch, is at the heart of the 2010 Siren blend.  Through blending trials, winemaker Charlie Dollbaum determined the final combination of the separately fermented and aged component varietals.  The wine was bottled unfiltered and unfined in March, 2012.  183 cases were produced.

With carefully balanced fruit and tannins, the Rhone-style blend is a quintessentially food-friendly wine.  Never shy about offering food match preferences, Dollbaum recommends that wine lovers offer friends a glass of ‘Siren’ with bistro-style skirt steak with wild arugula salad, grilled lamb with rosemary, Portobello burgers, and roast duck

Notes on the wine Tasting Notes Carica 2010 Rhone-style Red

Carica 2010 Grenache, Clements Hills

Juicy and vibrant, Carica 2010 Grenache tastes of ripe cherry, plum, and dried cranberry, with a dusty finish evoking exotic spices and California bay laurel.  This wine has a lovely garnet color and is lighter in body than the Carica Syrah and Petite Sirah.

Match this Grenache with summertime grilling favorites—whether chicken, steak, or burgers—and with Spanish tapas, or spicy charcuterie.

Winemaking and Vineyard Notes: The 2010 Grenache grapes were grown in one of the newer viticulture areas in Northern California, Clements Hills. This AVA is located west of the Sierra foothills in the Mokelumne River Basin, and features warms daytime temperatures and cool nights during the growing season. It is ideal for some of the winegrape varietals historically associated with Spain and France, especially Grenache (also known as Garnacha). The vineyard specializes in ultrapremium winegrapes and is certified for sustainability under the Lodi Rules. Following the completion of fermentation, the wine was aged 18 months in a neutral French oak barrel. Bottled in March 2012.

Notes on the wine Tasting Notes Carica 2010 Grenache

Carica 2008 Syrah,  ‘Kick Ranch’ Vineyard, Sonoma County

Full-bodied and elegant, this Syrah opens with aromas of blackberry and cassis, followed by a complex flavor profile of concentrated black cherry with notes of chocolate, smoke and sage. Three Syrah clones were harvested in late September and early October, co-fermented, then aged 16 months in both new and 2-year old French oak and American oak barrels

A balanced wine with plenty of structure, the Syrah will pair well with steak and balsamic onion relish, grilled lamb kabobs, or a Moroccan vegetable stew.  Highly drinkable now, and should cellar for a decade.  100 cases produced.

Notes on the wine Tasting Notes Syrah 2008-3

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Carica 2008 Petite Sirah, ‘Kick Ranch’ Vineyard, Sonoma County

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate – 90 points
Double Gold Medal Winner, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, 2011
Wine Enthusiast – 92 points, April 2011

Carica’s 2008 Petite Sirah was made from Sonoma County grapes, grown at Kick Ranch vineyard.  It offers intense fruit flavors and a rich finish.  Full-bodied and purple/black in color, the wine has aromas of spice, ripe plums, sandalwood, and violets, and flavors of blackberry, cassis, and a touch of black pepper.  Aged 21 months in French and American oak.  Limited production, 125 cases.  Bottled in August, 2010.

Notes on the wine Tasting Notes Petite Sirah 2008

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Carica 2008 Rhone-style Red Wine ‘The Siren’ G-S-M

Wine Enthusiast – 91 points, April 2011

‘The Siren’ blends the Rhone varietals Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre.  It follows in the tradition of Carica’s 2007 ‘Temptation’ proprietary red wine blend.  With its boldness and clean finish, this Red Wine tempts you with aromas of red fruit and herbs de Provence, and flavors of blackberry, chocolate, and pepper.  Limited Production, 175 cases.  Bottled in August, 2010.

Notes on the wine Tasting Notes Siren 2008

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