red blend ideas

[winechef]

I made a blueberry, Cabernet Sauvignon blend was nice.

and a mango peach Chardonnay perfect for brunch

 

[Snafflebit]

I made 6 cases of a blend last night from some of my 2021 wines: So far tasting great! I am excited to see how this evolves over time.
39% Merlot
59% Cabernet Sauvignon
2% Petit Verdot

Yes, paint by number classic Bordeaux blend, but why mess with perfection?

 

[winemaker81]

I have been re-scanning this thread and noticed a few Zin/Cab blends mentioned. Somewhere I ran across an article discussing blending and it mentioned that Zin and Cabernet Sauv would have a clash of flavors if blended, and I didn't expect to see a commercial wine made like this, just homebrew stuff.

I opened an Italian red, 50/50 CS and Primitivo ... wine writers can be like movie critics, lots of opinions but not necessarily anything anyone cares about.

 

[winemaker81]

It's been 6 months since the last update, and we've had a few new ones:


Red Grape - WMT

Alicante

tullamore: Alicante 60%, Muscat 40%

Barbera

tullamore: Barbera 90%, Petite Sirah 10%

tullamore: Barbera 85%, Petite Sirah 15%

Mac60: Barbera 81%, Sangiovese 13%, Petite Sirah 6%

tullamore: Barbera 80%, Sangiovese 15%, Petite Sirah 5%

CDrew: Barbera 80%, Sangiovese 15%, Aglianico 5%

tullamore: Barbera 60%, Dolcetto 30%, Nebbiolo 10%

Joe B: Barbera 54%, Grenache 46%

Clammypollack: Barbera 40%, Zinfandel 40%, Alicante 20%

Cabernet Franc

Nebbiolo020: Cabernet Franc 85%, Merlot 5%, Carmenere 5%, Alicante Bouschet 5%

Cabernet Sauvignon

Mainshipfred: Cabernet Sauvignon 80%, Petit Verdot 12%, Tannat 8%

Guasto-IS: Cabernet Sauvignon 78%, Merlot 8%, Cabernet Franc 8%, Petit Verdot 4%, Malbec 2%

Kitchen: Cabernet Sauvignon 72%, Merlot 28%

DistanceRunner: Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Merlot 20%, Cabernet Franc 10%

Snafflebit: Cabernet Sauvignon 59%, Merlot 39%, Petit Verdot 2%

kitchen: Cabernet Sauvignon 57%, Petite Sirah 43%

NCWC: Cabernet Sauvignon 51%, Merlot 26%, Syrah 13%, Sangiovese 10%

Meadini: Cabernet Sauvignon 50%, Merlot 30%, Syrah 20%

Clammypollack: Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, Cabernet Franc 25%, Merlot 25%, Sangiovese 25%

Carmenere

Chuck E: Carmenere 50%, Malbec 50%

Grenache

winemaker81: Grenache 62.5%, Syrah 37.5%, Mourvedre 12.5%

Meadini: Grenache 50%, Syrah 25%, Merlot 25%

Malbec

BMarNJ: Malbec 60%, Cabernet Sauvignon 40%

Merlot

StimVino: Merlot 78.9%, Barbera 21.2%

winemaker81: Merlot 67%, Cabernet Sauvignon 8.25%, Cabernet Franc 8.25%, Petit Verdot 8.25%, Malbec 8.25%

Jbu50: Merlot 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%, Petit Verdot 20%, Malbec 10%, Cabernet Franc 10%

winemaker81: Merlot 40%, Zinfandel 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 5%, Cabernet Franc 5%, Petit Verdot 5%, Malbec 5%

Montepulciano

StimVino: Montepulciano 70.5%, Barbara 21.2%, Muscat 8.3%

Nebbiolo

justsgm: Nebbiolo 90%, Petite Sirah 10%

StimVino: Nebbiolo 70.5%, Barbera 21.2%, Muscat 8.3%

Petite Sirah

Hazelmere: Petite Sirah 74%, Regent 26%

Pinot Noir

StimVino: Pinot Noir 75%, Syrah 25%

Primitivo

CDrew: Primitivo 60%, Syrah 40%

Sangiovese

tullamore: Sangiovese 85%, Sagrantino 15%

justsgm: Sangiovese 75%, Merlot 10%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%, Alicante 5%

Meadini: Sangiovese 60%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, Merlot 15%

tullamore: Sangiovese 60%, Merlot 20%, Cabernet Sauvignon 15%, Syrah 5%

mainshipfred: Sangiovese 60%, Nebbiolo 20%, Alicante 20%

winemaker81: Sangiovese 50%, Montepulciano 12.5%, Nebbiolo 12.5%, Nero D'avoia 12.5%, Sagrantino 12.5%

Mac60: Sangiovese 45%, Cabernet Sauvignon 35%, Merlot 15%, Petite Sirah 5%

Mac60: Sangiovese 44%, Cabernet Sauvignon 40%, Merlot 10%, Petite Sirah 6%

NCWC: Sangiovese 42%, Cabernet Sauvignon 21%, Merlot 26%, Syrah 5.5%, Petite Sirah 5.5%

buzi: Sangiovese 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 40%, Merlot 20%

Syrah

winemaker81: Syrah 33.3%, Petite Sirah 33.3%, Merlot 33.3%

Zinfandel

Dom1950: Zinfandel 75%, Alicante 25%

Chuck E: Zinfandel 75%, Petit Syrah 25%

Mac60: Zinfandel 75%, Syrah 13%, Petite Sirah 7%, Merlot 5%

BMarNJ: Zinfandel 70%, Barbera 30%

Kraffty: Zinfandel 50%, Merlot 20%, Malbec 20%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%

Red Grape - Commercial

Cabernet Franc

McGregor Winery – Rob Roy: Cabernet Franc 50%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%, Merlot 20%

Cabernet Sauvignon

Mark Ryan Winery - Dead Horse: Cabernet Sauvignon 85%, Merlot 10%, Cabernet Franc 4%, Petit Verdot 1%

Justin Vineyards – Isosceles: Cabernet Sauvignon 79%, Cabernet Franc 11%, Merlot 10%

San Acacia Cellars – Caballo Muerto: Cabernet Sauvignon 79%, Merlot 9%, Cabernet Sauvignon 8%, Malbec 2%, Petite Verdot 2%

Red Head - Red Sedan: Cabernet Sauvignon 60%, Shiraz 40%

Tenuta - Albrizzi: Cabernet Sauvignon 50%, Primitivo 50%

Grenache

Cabalié: Grenache 70%, Syrah 20%, Carignan 10%

Domaine de la Presidente - Cotes du Rhone: Grenache 50%, Syrah 35%, Carignan 10%, Mourvedre 5%

Merlot

Tentation de Dalem – Fronsac: Merlot 95%, Cabernet Franc 5%

Chateau Bellevue – Bordeaux: Merlot 65%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, Cabernet Franc 10%

Montepulciano

Antionio Federici - Roma Rosso: Montepulciano 60%, Cesanese 40%

Shiraz

Andean Vineyards - Waxed Bat: Shiraz 47%, Cabernet Sauvignon 32%, Malbec 21%

Tempranillo

Latitud 42 – Rioja Reserva: Tempranillo 95%, Graciano 5%

White Grape - WMT

Chardonnay

BarrelMonkey: Chardonnay 50%, Pinot Noir (white) 40%, Viognier 10%

Chenin Blanc

Kitchen: Chenin Blanc 67.7%, Sauvignon Blanc 33.3%

Gewurztraminer

ratflinger: Gewurztraminer 50%, Piesporter 50%

Muscato

Guasto-IS: Muscato 78%, Alicante 22%

White Grape - Commercial

Fernão Pires

El Campeon: Fernão Pires 70%, Branco Arinto 30%

Semillion

Chateau Belingard – Reserve Monbazillac: Semillion 70%, Muscadelle 15%, Sauvignon Blanc 15%

 

[Mac60]

Anyone used Koch Ranch Cab Sauv in the past just saw it listed on Gino Pinto wine list its pricey.

 

[Paulie vino]

Found this list on a local distributor website and thought I'd share....

Rose:​

• We recommend making Rose type of wine from Barbera, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Grenache.
• You could also blend in 5% of Muscat of Alexandria for extra dimension and flavor.

Robust Red Blends:​

• 25% Carignane + 25% Zinfandel + 25% Alicante Bouchset + 25% Petite Sirah
• 50% Syrah + 50% Petite Sirah
• 75% Cabernet Sauvignon + 25% Merlot
• 60% Ruby Cabernet + 20% Carignane + 20% Zinfandel
• 50% Alicante Bouschet + 25% Barbera + 25% Petite Sirah
• 1/3 Tempranillo + 1/3 Syrah + 1/3 Zinfandel

Fruit Forward/Lighter Red Blends:​

• 25% Grenache + 25% Zinfandel + 25% Alicante Bouschet + 25% Muscat
• 40% Granache + 40% Sangiovese + 20% Zinfandel
• 50% Zinfandel + 50% Barbera
• 50% Alicante Bouschet + 50% Grenache
• 15% Grenache + 15% Alicante Bouschet + 35% Carignane + 35% Zinfandel
• 70% Merlot + 25% Cabernet Sauvignon + 5% Grenache

White Blends:​

• 50% Sauvignon Blanc + 40% Chenin Blanc + 10% Malvasia
• 50% Chenin Blanc + %50 French Colombard
• 70% Chardonnay + 20% French Colombard + 10% Viognier
• 1/3 Pinot Grigio + 1/3 Muscat Canelli + 1/3 French Colombard

 

[Nebbiolo020]

Meh

 

[winemaker81]

Meh

About?

Anyone used Koch Ranch Cab Sauv in the past just saw it listed on Gino Pinto wine list its pricey.

WAY too rich for my wallet. I don't know of anyone who's ordered it.

 

[Nebbiolo020]

About?


WAY too rich for my wallet. I don't know of anyone who's ordered it.

What Paulie posted

 

[winemaker81]

What Paulie posted

Huh. I see @Paulie vino's post as tremendously valuable, as it's a commercial post, not limited to members of this forum.

Even in today's world, most new winemakers don't have resources. "Search" works if you know what to search for, so I don't often recommend that. If one doesn't know the right keywords, nothing is found. If one tries the right keywords, often too much to digest is found.

I started this thread after reading numerous posts where folks asked for help in blending. This thread gives folks an idea of what can be done, because it has been successfully done.

I commend Paule's distributor for give its customers tips on what they can do.

 

[Nebbiolo020]

Huh. I see @Paulie vino's post as tremendously valuable, as it's a commercial post, not limited to members of this forum.

Even in today's world, most new winemakers don't have resources. "Search" works if you know what to search for, so I don't often recommend that. If one doesn't know the right keywords, nothing is found. If one tries the right keywords, often too much to digest is found.

I started this thread after reading numerous posts where folks asked for help in blending. This thread gives folks an idea of what can be done, because it has been successfully done.

I commend Paule's distributor for give its customers tips on what they can do.

They are a lot of kind of awkward blending percentages.

 

[winemaker81]

They are a lot of kind of awkward blending percentages.

I don't see that. Besides, the percentages don't have to be exact for those ratios to be a good starting point.

 

[winemaker81]

We haven't had any updates to the list since it was last published, but I was at Grandfather Winery in Boone NC over the weekend, tasting 4 reds, 3 of which are blends. The grapes used are listed, but not percentages, so I'm not adding these to my list:

Big Boulder: Dolcetto, Zinfandel, Merlot

Wine Club Red: Merlot, Zinfandel, Chambourcin

Fusion: Malbec, Syrah

These are probably west coast USA grapes, as other than Chambourcin and Merlot, I doubt the others grow well or at all in NC.

 

[cmason1957]

I have one to add as well, percentages are unknown and I would imagine vary a bit from year to year. I believe this is in order from highest to lowest:

Quadriga is the name of the wine -Sangiovese , Primitivo, Dolcetta, Barbera

 

[tullamore]

this year i decided to do some Alicante - been a while since i worked wth this grape
made a blend - 80 % Alicante , 10% zin, %10 barbera - early results - a winner! big wine - great fruit/tannis -will enjoy this in the next 2 years
next year going to do a a throw back to my old Italian wine makers - and my up bringing - drinking wine - Alicante, Muscat and Zin Blend(made this blend many years ago) aways good results

 

[Mac60]

We added a new reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Koch Ranch vintage this year and are very excited about the final results.
We also switched Petite Sirah for Petite Verdot in our Super Tuscan and Barbera
Cab
80% Cabernet Sauvignon
16% Merlot
4% Petite Verdot
Barbera
75% Barbera
20% Sangiovese
5% Petite Verdot
Super Tuscan
45% Sangiovese
35% Cabernet Sauvignon
15% Merlot
5% Petite Verdot

 

[distancerunner]

We added a new reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Koch Ranch vintage this year and are very excited about the final results.
We also switched Petite Sirah for Petite Verdot in our Super Tuscan and Barbera
Cab
80% Cabernet Sauvignon
16% Merlot
4% Petite Verdot
Barbera
75% Barbera
20% Sangiovese
5% Petite Verdot
Super Tuscan
45% Sangiovese
35% Cabernet Sauvignon
15% Merlot
5% Petite Verdot

Field blends or tasting trials?

 

[winemaker81]

I have one to add as well, percentages are unknown and I would imagine vary a bit from year to year. I believe this is in order from highest to lowest:

Quadriga is the name of the wine -Sangiovese , Primitivo, Dolcetta, Barbera

It took more hunting than I expected, but I found the ratio for one of their years:

Primitivo 40%, Sangiovese 25%, Barbera 24%, Dolcetto 8%, Syrah 3%

I've been updating my list with newly published blends, but probably won't publish until the US Thanksgiving week, after I bottle the 2022's, so I'll have my latest blends in the list.

 

[winemaker81]

I'm pleased with this thread. It's done what I hoped for -- provide folks with ideas regarding how to blend their wines.

This idea came to me during a discussion of blending. *I* am comfortable making new blends, as I research what is done commercially, research grape & wine characteristics, and I am willing to accept that I may produce a less than favorable blend. [Note: Research = "reads lots of stuff"]

Not everyone has my comfort level in this regard, and this thread provides a rather large list of blends that have worked, which should help folks make informed decisions.

One area where we are deficient is the non-Vinifera grapes. I'm again making French-American hybrids after a 30+ year gap, and will be adding my blends to the list. Another area is fruit blends, including fruit/grape blends. I'd like to see more varietals added to the list.

I add items to my list as I see new posts. If I've missed anything, PM me and I'll update.

The new list mixes WMT member info and commercial wines. It doesn't matter where the idea came from, as long as it works.

The current blend list is:


Red Grape

Alicante Bouschet

Alicante Bouschet 80%, Zinfandel 10%, Barbera 10% (Tullamore)
Alicante Bouschet 60%, Muscat 40% (tullamore)
Alicante Bouschet 54%, Grenache 50% (distributor)
Alicante Bouschet 50%, Barbera 25%, Petite Sirah 25% (distributor)

Barbera

Barbera 90%, Petite Sirah 10% (tullamore)
Barbera 85%, Petite Sirah 15% (tullamore)
Barbera 81%, Sangiovese 13%, Petite Sirah 6% (Mac60)
Barbera 80%, Sangiovese 15%, Petite Sirah 5% (tullamore)
Barbera 80%, Sangiovese 15%, Aglianico 5% (CDrew)
Barbera 75%, Sangiovese 20%, Petit Verdot 5% (Mac60)
Barbera 60%, Dolcetto 30%, Nebbiolo 10% (tullamore)
Barbera 54%, Grenache 46% (Joe B)
Barbera 40%, Zinfandel 40%, Alicante Bouschet 20% (Clammypollack)

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc 85%, Merlot 5%, Carménère 5%, Alicante Bouschet 5% (Nebbiolo020)
Cabernet Franc 50%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%, Merlot 20% (McGregor Winery – Rob Roy)

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon 85%, Merlot 10%, Cabernet Franc 4%, Petit Verdot 1% (Mark Ryan Winery - Dead Horse)
Cabernet Sauvignon 80%, Merlot 16%, Petit Verdot 4% (Mac60)
Cabernet Sauvignon 80%, Petit Verdot 12%, Tannat 8% (Mainshipfred)
Cabernet Sauvignon 79%, Cabernet Franc 11%, Merlot 10% (Justin Vineyards – Isosceles)
Cabernet Sauvignon 79%, Merlot 9%, Cabernet Sauvignon 8%, Malbec 2%, Petite Verdot 2% (San Acacia Cellars – Caballo Muerto)
Cabernet Sauvignon 78%, Merlot 8%, Cabernet Franc 8%, Petit Verdot 4%, Malbec 2% (Guasto-IS)
Cabernet Sauvignon 75%, Merlot 25% (distributor)
Cabernet Sauvignon 72%, Merlot 28% (Kitchen)
Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Merlot 20%, Cabernet Franc 10% (DistanceRunner)
Cabernet Sauvignon 60%, Shiraz 40% (Red Head - Red Sedan)
Cabernet Sauvignon 59%, Merlot 39%, Petit Verdot 2% (Snafflebit)
Cabernet Sauvignon 57%, Petite Sirah 43% (kitchen)
Cabernet Sauvignon 51%, Merlot 26%, Syrah 13%, Sangiovese 10% (NCWC)
Cabernet Sauvignon 50%, Merlot 30%, Syrah 20% (Meadini)
Cabernet Sauvignon 50%, Primitivo 50% (Tenuta - Albrizzi)
Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, Cabernet Franc 25%, Merlot 25%, Sangiovese 25% (Clammypollack)

Carignan

Carignan 50%, Syrah 25%, Mourvèdre 25% (Charles Cros)
Carignan 24%, Zinfandel 25%, Alicante Bouschet 24%, Petite Sirah 25% (distributor)

Carménère

Carménère 50%, Malbec 50% (Chuck E)

Grenache

Grenache 76%, Mourvèdre 8%, Petite Sirah 8%, Syrah 8% (winemaker81)
Grenache 70%, Syrah 20%, Carignan 10% (Cabalié)
Grenache 67%, Shiraz 28%, Mourvèdre 5% (Colloca)
Grenache 62.50%, Syrah 37.50%, Mourvèdre 12.50% (winemaker81)
Grenache 50%, Syrah 35%, Carignan 10%, Mourvèdre 5% (Domaine de la Presidente - Cotes du Rhone)
Grenache 50%, Syrah 25%, Merlot 25% (Meadini)
Grenache 40%, Sangiovese 40%, Zinfandel 20% (distributor)
Grenache 25%, Zinfandel 250%, Alicante Bouschet 25%, Muscat 25% (distributor)

Malbec

Malbec 60%, Cabernet Sauvignon 40% (BMarNJ)

Merlot

Merlot 95%, Cabernet Franc 5% (Tentation de Dalem – Fronsac)
Merlot 78.90%, Barbera 21.20% (StimVino)
Merlot 70%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, Grenache 5% (distributor)
Merlot 67%, Cabernet Sauvignon 8.25%, Cabernet Franc 8.25%, Petit Verdot 8.25%, Malbec 8.25% (winemaker81)
Merlot 65%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, Cabernet Franc 10% (Chateau Bellevue – Bordeaux)
Merlot 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%, Petit Verdot 20%, Malbec 10%, Cabernet Franc 10% (Jbu50)
Merlot 40%, Zinfandel 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 5%, Cabernet Franc 5%, Petit Verdot 5%, Malbec 5% (winemaker81)

Montepulciano

Montepulciano 70.50%, Barbera 21.20%, Muscat 8.30% (StimVino)
Montepulciano 60%, Cesanese 40% (Antionio Federici - Roma Rosso)

Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo 90%, Petite Sirah 10% (justsgm)
Nebbiolo 70.50%, Barbera 21.20%, Muscat 8.30% (StimVino)

Petite Sirah

Petite Sirah 74%, Regent 26% (Hazelmere)

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir 75%, Syrah 25% (StimVino)

Primitivo

Primitivo 60%, Syrah 40% (CDrew)
Primitivo 40%, Sangiovese 25%, Barbera 24%, Dolcetto 8%, Syrah 3% (Brutocao - Quadriga)

Ruby Cabernet

Ruby Cabernet 60%, Carignan 20%, Zinfandel 20% (distributor)

Sangiovese

Sangiovese 85%, Sagrantino 15% (tullamore)
Sangiovese 75%, Merlot 10%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%, Alicante Bouschet 5% (justsgm)
Sangiovese 60%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, Merlot 15% (Meadini)
Sangiovese 60%, Merlot 20%, Cabernet Sauvignon 15%, Syrah 5% (tullamore)
Sangiovese 60%, Nebbiolo 20%, Alicante Bouschet 20% (mainshipfred)
Sangiovese 50%, Montepulciano 12.50%, Nebbiolo 12.50%, Nero D'avoia 12.50%, Sagrantino 12.50% (winemaker81)
Sangiovese 45%, Cabernet Sauvignon 35%, Merlot 15%, Petite Sirah 5% (Mac60)
Sangiovese 44%, Cabernet Sauvignon 40%, Merlot 10%, Petite Sirah 6% (Mac60)
Sangiovese 42%, Cabernet Sauvignon 21%, Merlot 26%, Syrah 5.50%, Petite Sirah 5.50% (NCWC)
Sangiovese 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 40%, Merlot 20% (buzi)

Shiraz

Shiraz 80%, Zinfandel 20% (Amandla)
Shiraz 47%, Cabernet Sauvignon 32%, Malbec 21% (Andean Vineyards - Waxed Bat)

Syrah

Syrah 50%, Petite Sirah 50% (distributor)
Syrah 33.30%, Petite Sirah 33.30%, Merlot 33.30% (winemaker81)

Tempranillo

Tempranillo 95%, Graciano 5% (Latitud 42 – Rioja Reserva)
Tempranillo 94%, Mourvèdre 2%, Petite Sirah 2%, Syrah 2% (winemaker81)
Tempranillo 34%, Syrah 33%, Zinfandel 33% (distributor)

Touriga Nacional

Touriga Nacional 35%, Tinta Roriz 25%, Syrah 25%, Alicante Bouschet 15% (Stone & Bones)

Zinfandel

Zinfandel 75%, Alicante Bouschet 25% (Dom1950)
Zinfandel 75%, Petite Sirah 25% (Chuck E)
Zinfandel 75%, Syrah 13%, Petite Sirah 7%, Merlot 5% (Mac60)
Zinfandel 70%, Barbera 30% (BMarNJ)
Zinfandel 50%, Barbera 50% (distributor)
Zinfandel 50%, Merlot 20%, Malbec 20%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10% (Kraffty)
Zinfandel 35%, Carignan 35%, Grenache 15%, Alicante Bouschet 15% (distributor)

White Grape


Chardonnay

Chardonnay 70%, French Colombard 20%, Viognier 10% (distributor)
Chardonnay 50%, Pinot Noir (white) 40%, Viognier 10% (BarrelMonkey)

Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc 67.70%, Sauvignon Blanc 33.30% (Kitchen)
Chenin Blanc 50%, French Colombard 50% (distributor)

Fernão Pires

Fernão Pires 70%, Branco Arinto 30% (El Campeon)

Gewurztraminer

Gewurztraminer 50%, Piesporter 50% (ratflinger)

Muscato

Muscato 78%, Alicante Bouschet 22% (Guasto-IS)

Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio 34%, Muscat Canelli 33%, French Colombard 33% (distributor)

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc 50%, Chenin Blanc 40%, Malvasia 10% (distributor)

Semillion

Semillion 70%, Muscadelle 15%, Sauvignon Blanc 15% (Chateau Belingard – Reserve Monbazillac)

 

[Hazelemere]

Petite Sirah Foch 2021, 2023

This is Lodi Mettler Vineyard 2021 Petite Sirah RC212 fermented almost raisined but not quite, in really nice condition Amarone style blended with my 2023 homegrown Marechal Foch homegrown and fermented with RC212/71B yeast combo, both wines American oaked with cubes during malolactic fermentation. The Petite Sirah was 29 brix rocket fuel and the Foch at SG 1.096 dropped the alcohol into the mid 14.5+ % range. All grapes were hand destemmed and fermented uncrushed. Here are my tasting comments:

Appearance - clear inky purple

Smell - good clean fragrant nose - hard to describe (maybe its too cold having just been pulled out of my cooler from a bottle split)

Tannin - good (high enough for this to age). I have 2 left and will leave them alone

Acid - good (the Foch boosts the acid on an otherwise super-ripe flat Petite Sirah)

Flavour - good rich balanced red. I'll save the last 2 bottles for my wife who loves rich, complex, low acid reds which this. It tastes like it needs more time for the tannins to drop so I'll let it. If you grow Marechal Foch and can find Petite Sirah in grapes or even as juice this is a good way to use it. The Foch makes the Petite Sirah more complex and the Petite Sirah mutes the acid of the Foch.

Bottom line - really good way to use Marechal Foch