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The Peirano Estate Illusion Red Blend 2021 blends Old Vine Zinfandel, Merlot, Petite Sirah, and Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from estate vineyards in the Lodi AVA. Peirano Estate is a family-owned vineyard and winery, the family has grown grapes since the 1880s. Lance Randolph (4th generation) and his daughter Alexis Randolph (5th generation) make the wine. They say that Lance is “Old School” and Alexis is “New School” and you can taste both approaches in your glass.
The various grapes for the Peirano Estate Illusion Red Blend 2021 are hand-picked separately and kept separate throughout the fermentation process. The winemaking procedure is unique in this price range. The grapes are fermented in their skins and there is extended maceration until dryness )this is where the skins soak in the juice for an extended period. Then the grapes are pressed and aged in oak barrels (15% new oak). They do not use 100% new oak barrels because there would be too much oak influence imparted into the wine. Since they would prefer the wine to reach its balance sooner rather than later they are careful about how the oak is used.
Lodi is an excellent location to find terrific value-priced wine, the Peirano Estate Illusion Red Blend 2021 lists for $16 and I found it selling for $13.99. The label is very attractive, it is part of their artist series there is a work of art on the label and in the bottle. The bottle is heavy and worthy of a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and there was a real cork.
Old vine Zinfandel is plentiful in Lodi. Commercial vineyards strive to always have the majority of their vines at peak vitality. A Cabernet Sauvignon vine may start to reduce its yield after 25 years or so. Vineyards will have a program where new vines are planted and the older vines are removed. Zinfandel which was originally planted for the Church for communion wine was not in high demand. If a Zinfandel vine was starting to slow down there was no economic incentive to pull it out and plant a new one.
Great grapevines need to struggle to produce great grapes and old vines struggle naturally. So vines that were once not too important are now elite. The alcohol content is 14.8%.
The Peirano Estate Illusion Red Blend 2021 Tasting Notes
The color is deep garnet red with black highlights. The nose is vibrant, there is ripe blackberry, spice, black pepper, cherries, herbs, chocolate, and vanilla. The Peirano Estate Illusion Red Blend 2021 is both smooth and elegant and rough and delicious.
This Red Blend tastes like extracted blackberry, rich blueberry, vanilla cream, rough-edged spice, black pepper, and ripe plum. The mid-palate tart raspberry, dark chocolate, pomegranate, another flavor of spice, and cranberry. The tannins do not bite and the acidity allows the flavors to fully unfold.
The Summary
- The Peirano Estate Illusion Red Blend 2021 is a very tasty, well-priced Red Blend, it is fun to drink.
- Pair the Red Blend with comfort food, blue cheese burgers, tacos, burritos, and really good pizzas.
