Here at Wine Spies HQ, we love a great Sangiovese. This grape is an Italian native, but it seems to thrive in certain California climates. It does particularly well in the Paso Robles region, where our pals at Doce Robles were kind enough to bestow upon us their delightful 2013 Reserve Sangiovese, the sure hit of your next Italian meal.

With a density you’d expect from a traditional Sangiovese, it has nice shades of crimson and auburn. On the nose, you’ll find a perfumed concoction of vanilla, pecan, gingerbread, honey, caramel, and dates. The palate is like a delicious slice of pecan pie, with walnut, toffee, creme caramel, and blackberry. It drinks very much like a Zinfandel with a lighter body, huge fruit, and a ton of barrel spice. Delicious and quaffable. Perfect for shishkabobs loaded up with mushrooms, steak, grilled onions, and squash seasoned with Santa Maria blend.

The small-production Doce Robles Winery is the very first winery to have appeared on the now winery-heavy Highway 46. Doce Robles’ neighbors include the likes of Peachy Canyon, Sextant and Castoro Cellars… to name just a few. Doce Robles planted their vineyards in 1996 to Barbera, Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. Primitivo, Petite Sirah, and Malbec were also planted in 2010 and 2012.

Enjoy!