VAL-DIGGY-DIGGY!!

One of our absolute favorite hip varietals. Hands down.

Do you like Pinot, Zinfandel, or Strawberry Agua Frescas? Or any other similarly juicy, fruit-packed reds?

This will be your new jam.

Valdiguié is a native grape to Languedoc-Roussillon and was once called ‘Napa Gamay’ here in California. But it’s not Gamay. It’s a unique variety.

And this one? It has all the right stuff - winemaker, vineyard, vintage.

It comes from a LEGENDARY vineyard. You probably know the Bien Nacido Vineyard. The same team, Bob and Steve Miller, planted the French Camp Vineyard just after they set up the famed Bien Nacido site in the Santa Maria Valley in 1973. Tucked in the corner of the Paso Robles Highland District AVA, it has incredible drainage and sees one of the biggest diurnal shifts in temps - often 50 degrees - in the region. This helps keep acidity high while bringing ripeness up. And it’s a perfect site for Valdiguié to thrive. Considering there are only around 223 acres planted in California, it’s arguably the best place to grow it in the state.

And you have the winemaker, Joey Tensley. Maybe you know him from his Tensley brand, where he makes iconic Syrahs and other Rhône-style reds. He’s amassed over 200 wines rated outstanding and simply does not miss. Antonio Galloni’s Vinous confirms, “Joey Tensley makes this range for the Miller family, who own Bien Nacido, Solomon Hills and other properties in the Central Coast. The wines offer plenty of varietal and site character at prices that remain quite accessible.”

Case in point, this is a beautifully done example. This veers into the extracted and fuller-bodied style of the grape. Its deep purple/red hues give way to juicy blackberry and red plum jam, espresso, and toffee, and some toasted herbs de Provence and white pepper on the palate. There’s also a fair amount of oak involved, although it doesn’t smother fruit or drown complexity. It’s round, mouth-filling, and bold.

We spotted no scores on the 2022, but it sure hits yummy. Like the previous vintage that Decanter raved about, “The aromas are wonderful, with pungent purple florals, wild dill, and dusty blackberries effusive in the glass. The palate is plenty ripe but remains fresh throughout. Wild mountain huckleberry, tart early-season blackberry, and white pepper are well placed alongside a fine structure and a touch of stony minerality to finish.”

For $23 you simply must take a flyer on this one. It’s a huge crowd-pleaser, and near impossible to resist. Trust your Agents of Wine!