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Josh Raynolds (Nov/Dec ’08)
2007 Municipal Winemakers Grenache / Cinsaut / Syrah Bright Red Santa Barbara County
($20; a 33/34/33 blend) Bright ruby-red. Seductively perfumed nose offers fresh scents of blackberry, cherry preserves, flowers and Christmas spices. Light-bodied and very fresh, with energetic red and dark berry flavors and gentle cinnamon and clove qualities. Finishes sweet and brisk, with very good peppery persistence.
89
Young Winos of LA (review here)
The 2007 Municipal Winemakers “Bright Red” Grenache/Cinsaut/Syrah (Santa Barbara County) hasn’t been released yet, but we were fortunate enough to get to taste a barrel sample. The first note we picked up on the nose was huge coffee. “There’ll be much less of that when it’s finished,” Dave said. “Once it gets racked for bottling, the air will knock a lot of that off and leave more fruit.” Jessica smelled some mint leaves, and Giselle got notes of rare red meat, seasoned with rosemary. My tastes are a little more pedestrian; I got notes of “pizza sauce with oregano.”
The palate was big and smoky, with charcoal notes prevalent throughout, and with some red fruit revealing itself nicely on the back end. Although Dave looked forward to the wine being a bit softer by bottling, the consensus was that he’d already crafted a winner. “This is delicious, actually,” offered Jordan, and Giselle and Noah both loved it just as it was. Leah took it a step further, calling it one of the best reds she’d ever had. Mary opined that this wine had been the closest match to its “example bottle,” the Côtes du Rhône. Everyone present was very impressed, and when resident tightwad Leah revealed that even she would be happy to drop the $20 for the finished product, we knew that we’d struck black gold.
Young Winos of LA (4.15.2008)
…another dynamic wine which Jessica thought “smelled like a rock.” Great herbal notes, coffee, red fruit — a lot going on. Dave’s distinctive wines were among our favorites of the day, and, priced at $15 and $20 respectively, they’re total deals.
Wine Spectator (3.27.2008)
MUNICIPAL WINEMAKERS Bright Red Santa Barbara County 2007 Score: 87-90 | $20/$15
Grapey, dense and concentrated, but also raw and untamed. Very much a barrel sample.
2008 Santa Barbara Wine Cask Futures Catalog (March ‘08)
Not only did Dave work in Australia but he also worked briefly at Chateau de Montfaucon in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. There he fell in love with Grenache based ones, as so many of us do. This wine is composed of 3 barrels of Grenache, 2 barrels of Cinsault and 2 barrels of Syrah. The aromatics are huge in this wine with a tea note – almost chamomile or Japanese Cherry from the Coffee Bean – I can’t put my finger on it. A slight herbaceous note shows as well but then it develops into sandalwood and dark red fruits. This wine is a must have for everyday drinking. Barbecuing with friends or just hanging out, this is perfect for any occasion.
7 responses so far ↓
1 mikemac1979 // Nov 8, 2008 at 11:41 am
Bright Red. What can I say about this wine. Plenty…
The recent rainy weather in CA presented optimal conditions to get together with family, light a fire, and get to the bottom this wine (literally).
Tasters: My wife, myself and my parents. My parents were hipsters of the 70′s, finger’s red from tasting Napa’s finest. Growing up, I still recall running through vineyards as my parent’s ravaged the free tasting rooms.
Like father like son (and now daughter), my wife and I have come to appreciate the tasting room atmosphere, so being able to sample Municipal’s Bright Red was a real treat. (Thanks Dave!)
We opened the bottle, and before allowing this Bright Red to breath, we dove in and tasted early. First thoughts: All of us, except my mom, tasting the wine considered ourselves red wine drinker’s, so it was my Mom who needed to be won over most importantly. Her first sip led to a second and then a third. She was hooked.
The rest of the red wine drinking crew agreed this was bottle above and beyond our expectations. My wife, who is not a big drinker, was first to finish and eager for a second glass. We decided to let this Bright Red breath for a while to allow it to wow us even further.
So the four of us reconvened after the Bright Red was able to properly breath (Lamaze, anyone?) With glasses full, then disappearing quicker than expected, my wife, my dad and myself (“Team Red”) all felt this wine was above and beyond our expectations. It smooth and above the level of the wine we’ve been accustomed to drinking living here in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
It was my Mom that Bright Red really impressed the most, which was no easy feat with her affinity for white wine. She noted Bright Red was smooth, easy to drink and didn’t leave that thick, overpowering aftertaste (of other reds she’s encountered). “Team Red” agreed this wine was incredibly drinkable and could easily be paired with a great steak or simply on its own.
All in all, the bottle went fast. Too fast if you asked me. The positive response to Municipal’s Bright Red was immediate and long-lasting. I think the best response given was through my mom’s request to have Bright Red as our Thanksgiving dinner wine selection. Holidays are large scale in our household: A lot of family, a lot of food and a lot of wine.
Cheers!!
2 Brett R. // Nov 8, 2008 at 11:44 am
This wine embodies everything that is right about a new winemaker in California. Instead of a fruity molotov cocktail we are treated to balance and restraint with Dave’s new release, Bright Red.
The nose upon opening this young wine is slightly herbal (I get eucalyptus after the rain, reminds me of that glorious smell of the first day of rain, walking to school under all the old eucalyptus trees) with some tobacco over a subtle layer of red berries.
On the palate, the wine is balanced, showing a nice acidity that is lacking in many wines that sell for three times as much. Hopefully others take note as Dave has a wine that is excellent in and of itself, and is a great value too. It is refreshing to see a red wine this balanced and relaxed. I happened to taste mine alongside a pizza with peppers and burrata cheese, and I can definitely say this is a food friendly wine.
Open this with friends around a crackling fire this holiday season, and hit Dave up if you’re in the Santa Ynez/Santa Maria Valleys.
3 Noah V // Nov 24, 2008 at 12:54 am
Review
Objective: to taste and assess a bottle of Municipal Winemakers 2007 Bright Red
Tools: wine bottle, corkscrew, margherita pizza, salad with balsamic vinaigrette
Procedure: decanted wine & cooked pizza, tasted wine, tasted wine with pizza
Results: we found cinnamon, mulled cider spice, cardamom, mushroom gravy, blackberry and cranberry sauce on the nose, along with wet meadow. The palette was similar to the nose and included notes of caramel. The wine was light to medium bodied and exceptionally well-balanced. Round tannins carried through the finish and created a robust full mouth feel, but one that didn’t linger. We discovered that the wine paired well with creamy buffalo mozzarella and was mild enough to balance an acidic salad. Not only would we purchase it again, we would bring it to a dinner party.
4 Barbara Pearson // Dec 12, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Bright Red was the perfect way to brighten up our meager surroundings on our first night in our new home! What amazing timing that we received our bottle as we were unloading the moving truck AND were able to crack it open even before we had unpacked our wine opener! Yay twist top! Hate to admit it, but we drank the whole bottle between the two of us in one evening, on cushions in the middle of an empty living room. It really was so tasty. The raspberries were what jumped out the most to us. The beery flavors really coated the whole palette. I would never get tired of that wine. Thanks for making it, Dave!
5 bacchus // Dec 18, 2008 at 8:24 pm
I found this blend very interesting and fun. It’s a layered wine with many levels to the experience. It starts off with a fresh and fruity bouquet which reminds me of springtime. The wine throws you for a loop and follows with a surprisingly subdued body which hits the back of the pallet. I liked pairing this with an ossau iraty cheese because it plays with the wine making it a striking combination. It has a mild ending and is not bitter which you find with many reds.
6 redamber // Jan 25, 2009 at 10:24 pm
My first experience with Municipal Winemakers has been extremely positive! I had a chance to try “Bright Red” and found it very pleasing on the palate. This blend of Grenache, Cinsaut, and Syrah grapes is vibrant and full. The taste is robust yet smooth, and it smells of smoke and berries. I enjoyed this bottle with a spicy tri tip roast and found it to be a very nice pairing. After dinner, I paired it with Rembrandt extra aged gouda cheese (my favorite cheese to eat with a good red) and it made my experience even more enjoyable! I would highly recommend this winery and especially “Bright Red” for people who are looking for a medium to full bodied reds. My favorite wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Margaux, so if those are up your alley, you will love this wine!
7 alisajbrady // Mar 22, 2009 at 8:34 pm
We must say that Municiple Winemaker’s Bright Red 2007 was well received by our local game-night crew. It was a perfect medium bodied wine for everyone’s taste buds in such a setting, and the blends (Grenache, Cinsaut, Syrah) added a personality that you just couldn’t get with an off the shelf pure-bred. Living up to its name, it definitely brought a bright flavor of fruit with it. It also paired amazingly well with our BBQed apps that we were serving. Another awesome thing about Dave’s wines are that he gives a little lesson in winemaking with each bottle on the back sheet. Don’t miss out on this one – definitely worth it….plus, they’re the only website with an “Awesome” club
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