Our Four A's Cabernet is 100% single vineyard Napa Cabernet and was aged 21 months in French Oak. The fruit is sourced from several blocks of Cabernet clones planted in the mid 90's. The soil consists mostly of clay loam, drains well and doesn't retain nutrients - which results in smaller, more concentrated clusters of fruit. This wine is a deep ruby color with soft violet hues. The beautiful aroma of blueberry, cassis and dusty chocolate is enhanced by the fine grained French oak. The underlying soft spice and briar combine with a super clean vanilla oak lift to compliment the fruit flavors. The acidity is not obvious and plays a supportive role to the berry fruit and oak. The palate is weighty and shows a supple and enjoyable mouth filling refined tannin finish. The Bordeaux nature of this wine is immediate with overtones of green pepper and spice but the Napa characteristics become apparent once the wine has been decanted. Drinkable now but should show subtleties of the fruit and terroir with aging and be ideal for cellaring.

The ClandestZin 2006 Russian River Valley Zinfandel is mid red in color with light purple hues. It shows a wonderful up front oak nose and character, a soft, smoky aroma and intimates hints of blueberries and briar. The warm berry fruit overtones show lifted perfume of plums and mulberry. The palate is rich, viscous, and luscious with a lovely supple entry, beautiful fresh violet and blackberry mid palate, and a long and fruit driven finish supported by nicely balanced oak tannin. This Zinfandel has backbone, but is subtle and the fruit is powerful, yet balanced.

While only bottled on April 9th, 2008, this wine is forward and quite drinkable now. The nose will lift and with bottle ageing the oak tannin will add balance and subtlety over a year - however, we dare you to try to keep a case for a year! This wine won't stay in your cellar because the temptation to "pull another bottle" will be too great. This is a lovely, oh so drinkable, delicious wine that is quintessential California Zinfandel.

Can you think of a better combination than wine and chocolates with chewy caramel?  Neither can we. 

Ricardus Corculum is offering a special holiday variety pack that includes: 1 bottle Four A's Cabernet Sauvignon, 1 bottle ClandestZin Zinfandel and Recchiuti chocolates with chewy caramel.  The Recchiuti Fleur de Sel Caramels offer a delicate balance of both floral and smoky notes from the caramel and salt.  We believe these compliment the profiles of both our Four A's Cab and the ClandestZin wines.  Celebrate the holidays with our wines and these sweet and savory treats.