2018 Ink Grade - Andosol Red (750ml)

Ink Grade's story stretches back to 1873, when Theron Ink acquired the remote Howell Mountain property through a land grant from Ulysses S. Grant and began planting vines at 2,200 feet, later carving a road down the mountain to bring his wine to market, a route that still bears his name. The Heitz family purchased the estate in 1989 and farmed it for decades, with the legendary Joe Heitz famously drawing on Ink Grade's fruit for some of the winery's most storied bottlings. When Heitz Cellars was sold in 2018, Ink Grade was spun off as its own project, now guided by Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy Jr. and winemaker Matt Taylor, farmed organically and biodynamically with Demeter certification.

Andosol pays homage to California's historic field-blend tradition, combining mostly Zinfandel with Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch of Merlot grown in volcanic tufa soils formed during the Miocene era nearly five million years ago. The 2018 vintage aged roughly three years in large-format cask, allowing the wine to develop depth without heavy oak influence.

The wine opens with cherry, cassis, and pine, followed by lilac and rose florals layered over ripe black cherry, strawberry, and a lingering note of pink peppercorn. Silky tannins carry through to a long, bright finish. It calls for anything off the grill: steaks, burgers, or roasted pork.