2011 Mark Herold Acha Red

Herold's 2011 Acha, 100% Tempranillo, boasts terrific density and power. Dark red/blue fruit, graphite, iron, smoke and licorice all jump from the glass. There isn't a whole lot of varietal character in the glass, but Acha is striking if taken on its own terms.

Made from a blend of 70% Tempranillo, and the rest Grenache, Carignan, Graciano and Petite Sirah, the 2011 Acha is slightly lighter, but fruity, offering up strawberry and black cherry notes intertwined with hints of roast herbs, damp earth and vanillin. Enjoy it over the next 3-4 years. Mark Herold, a well-known consultant, first came to my attention because of the brilliant wines he produced under the name Merus, a brand that has been sold. He now fashions a line-up of interesting and off-beat, hip wines that are priced realistically for as good as they are. His selections called Flux, Acha and Collide are usually blends ranging from white Rhone varietals to red Rhone and Spanish varietals. At the top of the line are his flagship Cabernet Sauvignons called Herold and Herold by Mark Herold. The red wines include three vintages of the Flux, all basically 67-68% Grenache, 15-20% Carignan and the rest Petite Sirah in the case of the 2009, Syrah in the 2010, and Mourvedre in the 2011. Herold produces 1,200-2,000 cases of these cuvees, and at $30 a bottle, they are well-worth checking out. Mark Herold’s homage to Spain are his three vintages of Acha, which is made primarily from Tempranillo. At $40 a bottle, these are very good wines. The three vintages of Collide also bear a California appellation, but their blends differ dramatically in each vintage. Tel. (707) 256-3111