Newfound, “Gravels” Red Wine Mendocino County, California 2019 (750mL)

Matt Naumann’s decade of service at Pinot Noir producer Failla provides a sturdy foundation for Newfound’s approach to farming (nature-first) and winemaking (restrained, elegant, but rugged). Meanwhile, his wife, Audra, is the engine of progressive thinking responsible for their departure from the tried-and-true, a vision she developed while working in wine marketing and sales. Together, they’re absolutely unstoppable and each passing vintage of Newfound turns more heads (including Jancis Robinson’s). And while Gravels is inspired by the rugged coastlines of the French Mediterranean, it’s the Pacific’s cooling influence that imparts that unmistakable freshness and tension. 

In this 2019 release, Newfound mixes a few parcels of Grenache and Carignane from some old-vine Mendocino vineyards—a perfectly executed combination of the classic and the unexpected. It’s their most affordable and exciting bottling yet, designed to highlight Grenache’s brighter side by amplifying its herbal top-notes and maintaining loads of freshness. While there's perfection in how the aromatics of the  Carignane are accentuated.  This 50/50 blend is so bright, pure, and very nimble food wine.