2016 Bodega Rancho Red Bennett Valley

This electrifying blend of 61% Syrah, and 39% Grenache comes from Jemrose Vineyard and Vivio Vineyard both in the Bennet Valley AVA.

The Bennet Valley, located south of Santa Rosa, is Sonoma County’s newest AVA. This beautiful region is nested among the mountains and is highly influenced by the Pacific Ocean's cool breeze. Wine Spectator stated that “it has become one of the most exciting areas in California for Syrah and Grenache.”

J. Derek Beitler, winemaker and owner of JDB Wines (and producer of this amazing blend) comes from a winemaking family that’s as well regarded as any in Napa. You may have heard of his uncle, Charlie Wagner, founder of Caymus. His brother owns Bohème in Sonoma.

Derek does not rest on the successes of his family, though. He spent his summers working at Caymus while in college and continues the pursuit of perfection in crafting his namesake wines. He now owns two wineries—Carne Humana Winery in Napa which he founded with his cousin Joey Wagner in 2010. But before that, he started his solo venture, JDB Wines, in 2007.

2016 was a beautiful year for Sonoma. Wine Spectator blessed this vintage with a 93-point review, stating that it was "

A textbook vintage with nearly ideal growing conditions throughout the year."