Today’s Luminary 2012 Red Blend is a really superb wine. It presents a bold and juicy experience, with layer upon layer of flavor and aromas that simply leap from the glass. In this balanced and juicy wine you’ll find blackberry and plum compote, then black cherry, cassis, tobacco, cedar, flint, black pepper and a hint of graphite.

On top of that, this is a masterful blend of wines from four distinctly different wine growing regions. How winemaking legend Michael Beaulac pulled off such a feat is beyond my comprehension - but he did it, in spades!

Michael Beaulac has made wines for Markham Vineyards and Murphy Goode, Merry Edwards and Laurier. Most recently, Michael made wine at St. Supery, where he spent seven years working with renowned French winemaker Michel Roland.

Michael was able to sample the finest lots from Pine Ridge Vineyards in Napa, CA - Double Canyon in Horse Heaven Hills, WA - Chamisal Vineyards in Edna Valley, CA and Seghesio Family Vineyards in Alexander Valley, CA. That’s right, these four vineyard sites each contributed their best fruit to the cause. The result is a very flavorful and very elegant wine that manages to feel perfectly integrated and beautifully balanced.

Here’s is what wine critic Wilfred Wong had to say about this wine:

“As incredible as it seems, the Luminary successfully shows a synergy of four separate regions and four different winemakers. Made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel and Merlot, one would have thought this was nothing more than a “kitchen sink” red. But no, the 2012 Luminary serves up brisk red fruit aromas and flavors and exhibits an excellent presence on the palate; lively and refined in the finish. They say that this is a work of art. They are absolutely right; this is an impressive piece of work.” - 90 Points. - Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

Here’s is what wine critic Robert Whitley had to say about this wine:

“The unconventional Luminary red blend is a collaboration between four winemakers across three distinct appellations in two states. Hence the “American” appellation. If that seems to be an invitation for confusion, was is very clear is that this is a wine with a future, a beautifully structured, richly layered, complex red that you can enjoy now or cellar for ten years or more…. Bottom line, it’s delicious. Trust me.” - 93 points Robert Whitley, Wine Review Online - Dec 2, 2014