Tasting Notes

Dark brick in color, this intense red drips colored "legs" down the side of the glass. Cherries, charcoal, and pine mix it up on the nose, with the palate coming through with lots of wood. White pepper, toast, and more red berries can be plucked from the long finish. Has a piece of both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in both nose and taste, striking an interesting balance. Drink now.

Winery Story

Cupeño wines are made by traditional methods, with careful hand sorting, gentle pressing, and quiet barrel aging. Wines are only racked when necessary and handling is kept to a minimum. With the wine being a near-even split, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot, Cupeño designates the exact percentages much like the tradition in Australia.

The word Cupeño comes from the Cupeño Native Americans, a Northwestern Indian tribe. Cupeño wines takes inspiration from these native people and have placed a delicately traced rendering of a traditional woodcarving on its label as a tribal tribute.

A little information about the Cupeño tribe: The Northwest Indian culture evokes distinctive images of salmon fishing, mythical animal motifs, cedar forests, ceremonial masks, and skillful woodcarving. There are 26 reservations throughout the state, from the Northwest Coast Indians in the west to the Columbia Plateau tribes east of the Cascades.