B Wise Wisdom Red Wine 2021

The wines at B. Wise Winery are the passion of Brion Wise, who came to Sonoma in 1993 after building a successful oil business. Being an engineer by training, he wanted the challenge of building a vineyard and winery from the ground up, so he selected a former cattle ranch on what is now Moon Mountain and went to work. For almost a decade, he drilled a well, planted the vineyards with the help of John Cauldwell, and built a winery, culminating in his first release in 2002.

After launching his winery, Brion sought to expand by purchasing several other wineries. He started by acquiring his neighbor, Amapola Creek, in 2020. Some of you may remember the Amapola Creek Red Wine that we featured in 2024. Wise also purchased Mark Herrold Wines in 2023. Coincidentally, Herrold has been a consultant to Wise since the inception of the winery. Then, in 2024, Wise purchased the old Cosentino vineyards and winery from Vintage Wine Estates. All of these, except for Cosentino, are operated as separate wineries, not “second labels.”

At the core of all B. Wise wines is his estate fruit from Moon Mountain. This appellation is one of the few that lies on the Sonoma side of the Mayacamas Mountains, which form the border between Napa and Sonoma Valleys. The vineyards of Moon Mountain benefit from higher elevations and coastal breezes, with a western exposure that allows for a long day of sunshine. This enables the slow ripening of both red and white varieties, producing wines with impressive power and structure. Like the Amapola Creek Red Wine we featured in 2024, this too is a blend. This time, it is 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Zinfandel, 10% Syrah, 5% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc.

When you open this wine, you will want to decant it for a half hour or more before serving. The nose of this wine begins with the unmistakable notes of oak: toasted coconut, caramel, and clove. Then the fruit emerges with rich tones of stewed black cherries, boysenberries, and black licorice. On the palate, the oak persists, wrapping the ample fruit with some dry, dusty tannins. Drink from 2026 to 2029 with steaks and roasts.