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Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Ventana Vineyards 2006 Rubystone
The Award-Winning Wine:
Ventana Vineyards 2006 Rubystone
Reason for Reviewing:
Ventana Vineyards 2006 Rubystone is one of 17 select red wines that earned a top-honor Chairman's Award at the recently completed 2008 Riverside International Wine Competition. Ventana Vineyards earned two Chairman's Awards for red wines, one for their Rubystone red blend and the other for their '05 Tempranillo.
Noteworthy:
Ventana Vineyards is the “Most Award Winning Single Vineyard in America”. For more than thirty years, Ventana has essentially been a research vineyard.
AlaWine Notes:
Ventana Vineyards 2006 Rubystone displays as a beautiful, deep ruby color. Velvety aromas of ripe dark cherry and blackberry waft to the nose. The cherry and berry flavors continue on the palate along with black currant in a robust explosion of full ripe fruit. Spice and moderate black pepper highlights carry the fruit flavors through a long and lingering finish.
Bottom Line:
Ventana Vineyards 2006 Rubystone is a hardy Rhone-style red wine blend of 62% Grenache and 38% Syrah. The flavors are well integrated in a smooth mouthfeel and a balanced, satisfying finish. Suggested retail price is $18. Overall composite score: 94 points.