About this winery
Why Matchbook? As a farm kid growing up in the late 1950´s and early 1960´s John Giguiere was a confirmed pyromaniac starting various things on fire such as his father´s wheat field. At one point, fearing total ruin from his kids burning him out of the house and farm, his father took them to the city jail for an hour stay to impress upon his brother and him the futility of their fascination with fire. John and his brother answered at a later date by graduating from random fires to the...
See the MATCHBOOK WINES detail page for more information on this brand
Product notes
The Petit Verdot for this blend is from three of the Matchbook Estate Vineyards in the Dunnigan Hills: Richie Ranch, Gemmer and Lederer. The Malbec comes entirely from Matchbook Estate’s Gemmer vineyard. Finally, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Sweetwater in Chalk Hill, Salley Vine Vineyard in Alexander Valley and Gemmer vineyard in Dunnigan Hills adds length and depth to the wine.
Production notes
Blended and aged 24 months in a combination of French,American and European/American hybrid barrels, approximately 30% of which are new. The barrels were sourced as follows: Carpathian oak from Giraud cooperage and Trust Cooperage. The American oak from Cooperage is the 1912 “Profile Series.” Demptos hybrid American and European and French oak from Giraud Cooperage.
Tasting notes
Anchored by Petit Verdot this robust red has loads of earthy leather and brambly fruit in the bouquet. The blend of three powerhouse reds delivers broad flavors of plum, blackberry, mocha and vanilla; barrel aging adds a nice dose of oak and a grip of tannin. The finish lingers with boysenberry and old-fashioned cigar box. This full-flavored red calls for a thick steak or a big prime rib.