2009 Mark Herold Flux Red

My favorite of this trio is the medium to full-bodied, non-oaked 2009 Flux, possibly because it has a few more years of bottle age. Deep ruby-colored with lots of strawberry, black cherry liqueur, lavender, loamy soil and peppery notes, it is filled with personality, and should drink well for 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