Los Chuchaquis 'Mago' Red Blend
Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Cabernet Pfeffer, Albariño, 2022
Santa Ynez Valley > Santa Barbara County > California
A very limited mystery man of a red wine from the Chuchaquis geniuses: only 204 cases produced, and we have some. Light, chillable, and crunchy co-ferment of an eclectic slew of red and white grapes. It has notes of rhubarb and ripe strawberry with well-integrated tannins, finishing with a bit of pepper. "Chuchaqui (choo-CHA-key) is a Quechua word from South America that literally means "without legs". In Ecuador, the word is colloquially used to refer to "he or she who is perpetually hungover" and often affectionately used for the local town drunk." And you can too!
Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Cabernet Pfeffer, Albariño, 2022
Santa Ynez Valley > Santa Barbara County > California
A very limited mystery man of a red wine from the Chuchaquis geniuses: only 204 cases produced, and we have some. Light, chillable, and crunchy co-ferment of an eclectic slew of red and white grapes. It has notes of rhubarb and ripe strawberry with well-integrated tannins, finishing with a bit of pepper. "Chuchaqui (choo-CHA-key) is a Quechua word from South America that literally means "without legs". In Ecuador, the word is colloquially used to refer to "he or she who is perpetually hungover" and often affectionately used for the local town drunk." And you can too!
Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Cabernet Pfeffer, Albariño, 2022
Santa Ynez Valley > Santa Barbara County > California
A very limited mystery man of a red wine from the Chuchaquis geniuses: only 204 cases produced, and we have some. Light, chillable, and crunchy co-ferment of an eclectic slew of red and white grapes. It has notes of rhubarb and ripe strawberry with well-integrated tannins, finishing with a bit of pepper. "Chuchaqui (choo-CHA-key) is a Quechua word from South America that literally means "without legs". In Ecuador, the word is colloquially used to refer to "he or she who is perpetually hungover" and often affectionately used for the local town drunk." And you can too!
Blend: 82% Sangiovese, 6% Zinfandel, 6% Cabernet Pfeffer, 6% Albariño
ABV: 12%
The Story: With partner Jehan Hakimian, Ryan Stirm makes wines under the ‘Los Chuchaquis’ label - an experimental line of interesting fruit sources and combinations, plus unique winemaking, that allow the duo to play with wines that fall even farther outside the California mainstream. Fruit for the Mago red blend is sourced from three different vineyards (Sangiovese and Albariño: C5 Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley; Zinfandel: Wirz Vineyard in the Cienega Valley; Cab Pfeffer: Siletto Vineyard in Santa Benito). Sangiovese was harvested early October, then fermented carbonic in stainless steel for three weeks before pressing. Fruit wa settled in tank and racked to neutral barrel after primary ferment, aged fo rnine months after, then blended together with the other splashes of different varieties before bottling in June of '22. Unfined, unfiltered.
Personality: This wine is like if Chianti went on a weird head trip in Santa Ynez and had a floral fruited Valley love child, thanks to that splash of Albariño.
Harmony: A versatile wine for red sauce, roast white meats, pizza night, meaty fish, and aperitif.