Placeholder Image
SommSelect

Tintype, “Snapshot” Red

Other, United States 2017 (750mL)
$28.00
/
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Your cart is empty.
  • In stock, ready to ship
  • Inventory on the way
Fruit
Earth
Body
Tannin
Acid
Alcohol
SommSelect

Tintype, “Snapshot” Red

Today, I want to do things a bit differently: This wine doesn’t need a dramatic monologue or a paragraphs-deep, comprehensive look into terroir and history. It doesn’t need hyperbole or any mentions of critical praise. All it needs is a concise narrative explaining just how delightfully refreshing and enjoyable it is. “Snapshot” is a masterful fusion between two of my favorite French grapes, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc, that was raised naturally in old French barrels.  Honestly, the results are so fascinating and sublime, I was left scratching my head wondering why this blend isn’t done more often!
With Pinot coming from a naturally farmed vineyard in cool-climate Anderson Valley and Cabernet Franc from the Sierra Nevada Foothills, this is a deeply thirst-quenching, no-frills red that speaks to the purity of sustainable farming and unmanipulated winemaking. Each sip is so supple, polished, and impossibly delicious, but that’s what great wines do—they make the winemaking aspect seem effortless. So, while I can't stop you from crawling your way through the bottomless pits of $30-and-less wine, I can confidently say that “Snapshot” is about as pretty, soft, and non-obtrusive as it gets. After spending years perfecting the blend, today’s 2017 represents Tintype’s grand debut. We’re in possession of 25 of the 203 cases produced, and we wish we could keep about 20 for ourselves. 
I don’t know about you, but “Snapshot” is exactly what everyone in our office needed. A reset, a “let’s enjoy this quietly and relax” wine that requires little-to-no-thought. I say this, however, with no disrespect—in fact, quite the opposite. Crafting wines that allow you to simply sit there and savor/admire them without any judgment are far and few between because they’re hard to master. That’s why Tintype impressed us so much: We had no idea who they were (Nick Johnson and Abigail Vorce) or where they were making wine (a small urban cellar in Oakland), we just immensely appreciated what was in the glass. We later learned that a bicycle trip in France inspired them to craft their first vintage in 2014. By using sustainably farmed vineyard sources around northern California and crafting wines in traditional, non-interventionist styles, they’ve found a strong admirer in SommSelect. 

A blend of 60% Cabernet Franc from El Dorado County (Sierra Foothills) and 40% Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley (Mendocino), today’s “Snapshot” fermented naturally in open-top containers with a light pump-over and punch-down regimen. Upon completion, the wine was gently transferred into used French oak barrels for 13 months of undisturbed aging. Bottling occurred without any fining or filtration, and a modicum of sulfur was added to ensure flawless preservation. Because of the “natural” qualities at play here, we recommend a 10-minute flash decant before serving in Burgundy stems around 55-60 degrees. The wine reveals a deep bright ruby red with slight pink accents and spills out jaw-droppingly pure aromatics: wild raspberry, candied cherry, redcurrants, ripe plums, wild strawberry, fresh herbs, rose, violets, crushed rock, and hints of exotic spice. This is ultra-soft, edge-free wine that glides across the palate from start to finish. You won’t find a single blemish on the palate—only resoundingly pure, cooling fruit that releases a waterfall of endorphins. Just relax when enjoying this, forget about the chaotic state of the world and appreciate the simple things. Cheers. 
Placeholder Image
Country
United States
Region
Other
Sub-Region
United StatesEl Dorado (Cabernet Franc) & Anderson Valley (Pinot Noir)
Soil
Decomposed Granite (El Dorado) & Gravelly Clay Loam (Anderson Valley)
Farming
Sustainable
Blend
Cabernet Franc 60%, Pinot Noir 40%
Alcohol
13.0
OAK
Neutral French Barrels
TEMP.
55-60
Glassware
Burgundy Stem
Drinking
Now-2022+
Decanting
15 Minutes
Pairing
Crispy Fried Eggplant

United States

Washington

Columbia Valley

Like many Washington wines, the “Columbia Valley” indication only tells part of the story: Columbia Valley covers a huge swath of Central
Washington, within which are a wide array of smaller AVAs (appellations).

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Oregon’s Willamette Valley has become an elite winegrowing zone in record time. Pioneering vintner David Lett, of The Eyrie Vineyard, planted the first Pinot Noir in the region in 1965, soon to be followed by a cadre of forward-thinking growers who (correctly) saw their wines as America’s answer to French
Burgundies. Today, the Willamette
Valley is indeed compared favorably to Burgundy, Pinot Noir’s spiritual home. And while Pinot Noir accounts for 64% of Oregon’s vineyard plantings, there are cool-climate whites that must not be missed.

California

Santa Barbara

Among the unique features of Santa Barbara County appellations like Ballard Canyon (a sub-zone of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA), is that it has a cool, Pacific-influenced climate juxtaposed with the intense luminosity of a southerly
latitude (the 34th parallel). Ballard Canyon has a more north-south orientation compared to most Santa Barbara AVAs, with soils of sandy
clay/loam and limestone.

California

Paso Robles

Situated at an elevation of 1,600 feet, it is rooted in soils of sandy loam and falls within the Highlands District of the Paso Robles AVA.

New York

North Fork

Wine growers and producers on Long Island’s North Fork have traditionally compared their terroir to that of Bordeaux and have focused on French varieties such as Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

Others We Love