Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Red Blend 2018 (California) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this delicious blend from California that is featured on the cover of the January 22nd LCBO VINTAGES Release and arrives on shelves across Ontario for the first time this Saturday.

It is produced by Francis Ford Coppola Winery, a name famous in the world of cinema, but also quite popular in the world of wine. In 2006, the Coppola family purchased a historic property in Sonoma County and wanted to create a resort, a wine wonderland, and a place to celebrate the love of life. After two years of renovations, the winery opened in 2010 with a tasting room, museum, and restaurant.

The Coppola family also has a firm commitment to sustainability as they have long supported sustainability throughout their lives and many business endeavours in an effort to preserve the land for generations to come. In 2020, the winery became certified sustainable through the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. Some of Coppola winery's sustainability activities include using energy produced from renewable sources, conserving and reducing water usage, as well as farming sustainably and promoting biodiversity in the vineyard.

This red wine is from Coppola's Diamond Collection, a range of wines that are crafted with grapes grown across California (and Oregon), and are carefully combined to create wines for all occasions. This particular wine is created exclusively by taste each vintage with no particular roadmap in mind. The 2018 vintage it is a blend of 43% Petit Verdot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Alicante Bouschet, 12% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, and 7% Syrah using grapes from various appellations across California and aged for 12 months in French oak barrels.

Tasting Note:

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA DIAMOND COLLECTION RED BLEND 2018 - California, USA (#22593) (XD) - $28.95
This blend of 43% Petit Verdot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Alicante Bouschet, 12% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, and 7% Syrah has a fragrant nose that offers a lush array of ripe black, dark red, and purple fruit aromas mingling with vanillin oak, and spices. It's full-bodied with slightly jammy black and red fruits such as blackberry and cherry, along with spice, and vanillin oak flavours in a pleasingly dry flavour profile. Although there is a touch of warmth, it's still well-balanced with good acidity, and smooth, dusty textured, and moderately grippy tannins. Woody, earthy, and milk chocolate notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines Francis Ford Coppola are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.