Reviews & Ratings

2008 Robert Foley Charbono

Winery: Robert Foley

Vintage: 2008

Wine Name/Vineyard:

Wine Category: Charbono

Grape blend: 100% Charbono

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Napa Valley

State or country: CA

Price: $35

Cases produced: 4,500

KWG Score: 90 (based on 2 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (91)

Review date: August 20, 2010

Wine Review: Have you ever had Charbono? Even if you have, you probably have not had one this good. Check out the latest release from Robert Foley. It is opaque and very dark purple colored. It opens with a ripe blackberry bouquet with a hint of oak and black licorice. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, and full of life. Yet it is quite smooth at the same time. The flavor profile is a jammy black raspberry and ripe blackberry blend with a hint dusty oak and black licorice in the background. The finish is dry and its fruit flavors linger for quite sometime. This wine will appeal to those readers who enjoy Aussie GSM's. I would pair it with a rack of juicy barbecue ribs. Enjoy - Ken

Winemaker Notes: Charbono is one of the lost grape varieties – almost. Recent reports indicate there are only about 40 acres of this variety in production, most in Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties. It was wiped out by the Phylloxera root louse infestation in Europe. Some believed it to be the Italian grape variety Dolcetto but this was proven not to be the case through genetic testing. After repeal of Prohibition in the U.S., Charbono was used by Inglenook for blending with their new Cask Cabernet wines and small amounts were bottled as varietal wine. I tasted the 1968 Inglenook Charbono from cask in 1969 and was inspired to become a winemaker with that taste. The 2008 vintage ripened this variety to perfection and this wine can arm wrestle with the big boys. Grapey, firm and ripe – you can enjoy our '08 Charbono with any kind of cuisine.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Robert Foley 2008 Charbono.