Hair of the Dog Wines, Grande Cane Rosso

• Body: Full
• Sweetness: Dry
• Alcohol: 14.5%
• Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese
• Region: California
• Practices: Sustainable, Vegan
• Tasting Notes: On the nose - cedar and herbal notes from the Cabernet Franc, a mix of dark berries from the Cabernet Sauvignon, and a rustic essence from the Sangiovese. Luscious flavors of blackberry, cherry and black currant. Mocha, forest floor and just a trace of eucalyptus join in near the finish as the wine lingers.

Grande Cane Rosso loosely translates to Big Red Dog in Italian. Think, Bordeaux meets Tuscany and they create a wine. 40% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Sangiovese.

You may have enjoyed a few Super Tuscan wines, where the blend is at least 70% Sangiovese with up to 30% Bordeaux varietals. This can create a Sangiovese on steroids, and we didn’t want to do that. Instead, our winemaker wanted to honor his Italian roots by crafting a wine with the rich, deep flavors of a Bordeaux merged with the mouthwatering acidity of a food-friendly Sangiovese. He nailed it!

The nose is the perfect fusion of the cedar and herbal notes from the Cabernet Franc, a mix of dark berries from the Cabernet Sauvignon, and a rustic essence from the Sangiovese. The opulent entry flows into a velvety mid-palate. Just as the luscious flavors of blackberry, cherry and black currant appear, so does the buoyant acidity to temper the layers of rich fruit. Mocha, forest floor and just a trace of eucalyptus join in near the finish as the wine lingers. The wine’s firm yet gentle structure stays tucked into the background, performing its job but never taking center stage.

Grande Cane Rosso provides all the depth and beauty of a Bordeaux balanced with the food- friendly appeal of a Sangiovese. Salute!