2022 Ridge Carignan Buchignani Ranch

The 2022 Carignane Buchignani Ranch is loaded with bright, extroverted varietal fruit that rides the lines between berry and citrus—raspberry and orange, strawberry and tangerine—all seasoned with a dusting of crushed rocks, black pepper and purple flowers. The racy acidity is no joke, but there’s enough fruit to keep it on the rails. Lovely.

Full bottle 1,215 g. From the wonderfully detailed label: 'Bottled 12/23. These head-trained, low-yielding old vines struggled with the effects of the drought. A mild summer slowed ripening, allowing the small crop to develop full flavour while preserving its fresh acidity. The blocks were harvested between the 23rd and 25th of August. In tasting, it was clear that all five should be included in this classic Carignane ... Ingredients: hand-harvested grapes, indigenous yeast, naturally occurring malolactic bacteria, oak from barrel-ageing, minimum effective SO 2 .' Deep purple with a fuchsia rim. Black liquorice and dried figs on the nose. Wicked, high acidity and grippy, drying tannin. This needs fat and/or age – some sort of flesh to stack on these bones or time to mellow it. (SCJ)

Another Alexander Valley release and 100% hillside old-vine Carignan, the 2022 Carignane Buchignani Ranch is deep purple-hued and gives up textbook varietal notes of mulberries, red plums, leather, peppery herbs, and loamy earth. It's concentrated, has a medium-bodied mouthfeel, and present yet ripe, polished tannins. It's a great example of the variety and will drink well for at least 8-10 years, although I generally aim for drinking most Carignan within a decade of the vintage.