Luna Vineyards Red Blend Napa Valley Canto 2002

Winemaker's Notes:

CANTO is Luna's signature red wine, showcasing premium, hand-picked fruit in a distinctive blend that is unparalleled in quality. This wine is the culmination of an inspired vision, skillful winemaking and an intuitive search for the finest grapes. Every year, the most promising rows on the best blocks in our vineyards are reserved for CANTO. Once the fruit is in the cellar, grapes from five different varietals are carefully blended for optimal flavor, aroma, and depth of character; the wine is subsequently aged for nearly two years in French oak barrels. "Good deep red. Captivating, highly complex nose offers cassis, crushed currant, cranberry, dried rose petal, meat, leather and earth. Funky, layered, penetrating flavors of dark fruits, game and leather, all given shape by strong acidity. Quite tannic, but the tannins come very late. The wildest of these reds today. Still, my most recent tasting at Luna made it clear that Drash is moving this winery in the direction of more civilized wines. 91 points" - Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, May/June 2004 2002 CANTO Facts 47% Sangiovese, 17% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petite Sirah Napa Valley Appellation Aged for 20 months in French oak barrels The 2002 Canto is the color of blackberry jam, dark and jewel-like. The nose recalls black cherries on the first inhalation, and unfolds to reveal hints of cocoa beans and dense, bittersweet chocolate. The palate reveals more layers of ripe black fruit, with a dense backbone of earth and a lingering suggestion of fine Cuban tobacco. The tannins dust the tongue like a worn leather glove, lingering for a long moment before dissolving. The 2002 growing season was ideal; a long, warm summer allowed all five of the Canto varietals to experience maximum hang time for peak sugar content and ripe, rich flavor. At harvest, a portion of the fruit was co-fermented together, enhancing the flavors, texture and unity of the wine. Our Sangiovese was exceptional in 2002, and was chosen to make up the back bone of this special blend. The wine was unfined and unfiltered.