Idlewild "The Bird" Flora & Fauna Red Blend 2022

In Italy, the house wine is often light, fresh, and firmly structured so as to pair beautifully next to a wide range of foods.  That's the inspiration behind this blend. Dark cherry, iron, and sanguine notes, warm spices, dried herbs, violets, and graphite are highlights of the aromas. The mouthfeel is a joyful interplay of brightness with chewy bass notes before the seriousness kicks in with a firm acid and tannin balance on the finish. Winemaker Sam's Flora and Fauna line pays homage to the collection of plant and animal life in this time and place.  It's another way of casting the idea of terroir, expanding the lens beyond soil and weather to encompass the whole of the local ecosystem.