Atrea 2006 Old Soul Red Mendocino

Atrea
Dark ruby in color, this wine's nose reveals ripe strawberry and red raspberry fruit, mocha, a hint of white pepper and a side note of classic Malbec baking spice. The flavors are jammy, ripe and expressive, and the tannins are creamy, supple and well integrated. Well-proportioned and balanced, juicy but not overripe, this vintage continues to deliver the Old Soul Red message of imminent, satisfying drinkability on release without sacrificing the merits of aging potential.
Wine Advocate
An attractive, bistro-styled red, the 2006 Atrea Old Soul Red (39% Zinfandel, 36% Syrah, and the rest Petite Sirah and other varietals) is a California version of a high class French Côtes-du-Rhone. Plenty of spice, pepper, roasted herb, blackberry, and black cherry aromas jump from the glass of this medium-bodied, generous, velvety-textured, delicious, seductive wine. Enjoy it over the next 1-2 years. Score: 88 - Robert Parker, February 2010.

Type	Red
Varietal	Malbec, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Zinfandel
Vintage	2006
Bottle size	750mL
Alcohol content	14.2%
Appellation	California – North Coast - Mendocino
Wine Advocate	88
Wine Enthusiast	--
Wine Spectator	--
Other	n/a

The Story

Having sold Fetzer Vineyards to Brown-Forman in 1992, former CEO John Fetzer settled into the life of a gentleman farmer, growing grapes organically for a number of wineries in Napa and Sonoma counties. He replanted several vineyards, continuing the organic farming practices that his family had pioneered in the 1980s. By 2001, Fetzer was eager to return to winemaking...in a small way. He and his wife, Patty Rock, envisioned a boutique winery producing no more than 10,000 cases that would showcase the varietals in which Mendocino County.

His mission was to highlight the outstanding viticultural traditions of the county and raise the bar for local vinification practices to produce wines that could compete with the finest world wines.