Bonny Doon Le Cigare Volant is a wine that is considered to be one of the most iconic wines in America. This wine is crafted by Randall Grahm, who has been making wine for over 30 years. The name Le Cigare Volant translates to "the flying cigar," which is a reference to a famous French legend about a flying saucer that looked like a cigar. This wine is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Cinsault grapes that are sourced from various vineyards. On the nose, it exudes aromas of black cherry, raspberry, and spice. On the palate, it is rich and complex, with notes of blackberry, currant, and a hint of oak. This wine pairs well with grilled meats, roasted vegetables, and aged cheeses. Its unique character and flavor have earned it a cult following among wine enthusiasts.

Tasting Notes

Amazing aromas of fresh ripe red plum, some strawberry, with delicious, savoury flavours, spice and licorice. Utterly fresh and moreish on the palate.

About the Winery

A perpetual student at the University of California, Randall, the vineyard's owner, was born in the city of Los Angeles in 1953. Afterwards, he landed himself in Beverly Hills under a wine merchant. This allowed him to try many French wines and made him become a complete wine geek. With the help of his family, Randall bought land in the Santa Cruz Mountains in the quiet town of Bonny Doon with the goal of making the Great American wine - Pinot Noir. The grapes used to make it were difficult to get. This made him understand that he would have far more success producing more distinctive and creative wines working with Rhône varietals on the Central Coast of California.

After his first wine was a hit, he was named "The Rhône Ranger" and appeared on the Wine Spectator cover in 1989. The 28th largest winery in America is Bonny Doon Vineyard, which has continued to expand with the help of several exceptionally well-known brands. Better late than never, Randall realised that the firm had significantly strayed from his initial goal of creating soulful, distinctive, and creative wines and that it was time to make a clear course correction. In light of this, in 2006, he sold off the bigger brands (Big House and Cardinal Zin), and in 2010 he did the same with Pacific Rim.

When they used to make wine using grapes that were acquired from conventionally farmed vineyards, they frequently had to utilise complex winemaking techniques, such as acidulating musts, using "designer" yeasts, bacteria, and enzymes, adding organoleptic tannins, and dealcoholizing liquid. However, the new paradigm is deceivingly straightforward: Producing wines in a traditional manner, with moderate alcohol content, not overripe or over-extracted. The specific winemaking technique that shapes this Vineyard today is the use of yeast lees frequently. At the very least, the lees' autolysate releases mannoprotein, which gives the wine a creamier texture and earthier flavour.

https://www.bonnydoonvineyard.com

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