The 2014 Carignane combines two separate vineyards, both farmed by the Colombini family in Mendocino County. The majority of the blend comes from the Road I block (the sole source for the wine in 2012 and 2013), planted in 1942 at 900 feet of elevation on the eastern bench of Redwood Valley. The remainder comes from the dry-farmed vines of the Cemetery block in the Ukiah Valley, planted in 1953. Its curious name derives from the fact that the only access to it is through the main gate of the Ukiah city cemetery! Both sites are brilliant in their own way: Road I contributes sheer density and savory intensity, while Cemetery provides bright fruit, precision, and lift—qualities that are highly valued in a warm, exceptionally dry vintage like 2014.

The end result of joining these two blocks of old vines is a wine with depth, dark fruit, and intense, savory flavors, balanced by plenty of freshening acidity.