Bedrock Wine Co. 'Evangelho Vineyard Heritage' 2024 Contra Costa County

750ml bottle

14.5% abv

Bright, perfumed, and super fresh old-vine Contra Costa field blend. Red and black berries, blood orange, mint, pepper, and violets on a lifted, medium-bodied frame with fine tannin and salty-mineral snap. Elegant, floral, and savory rather than jammy; one of the most refined recent Evangelho releases.

Like almost everything in the fantastic 2023 vintage, the fruit for this wine was harvested nearly a month later than normal. From vines planted in the 1890s, own-rooted on banks of deep sand a mere mile from the Sacramento River delta, this vineyard has exploded from relative obscurity a decade ago and is now being appreciated for the world-class site it is. The extended hangtime, combined with the natural intensity of the wind-blown, sand dune terroir has made for a dense, vibrant, and classic Evangelho Heritage Wine. Composed of separate, field-blended sections from this iconic vineyard, the final wine is about 78% Zinfandel and 16% Mourvèdre with the balance being Carignan and small amounts of Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, Palomino, and even the fruits of a single, huge Clairette Blanche vine. This is as deeply colored an Evangelho as I can remember making, and this, combined with the natural freshness and perfume from a long growing season, shows off the exuberant black raspberry, curry spice, and salted plum so typical of the site. A truly great Evangelho.