My experience with field blend is a Portuguese one. Once upon a time grapes were grapes and wine was wine. Different grapes could be planted willy nilly in the vineyard. Harvest them and you got a bit of this and that grape. Another type of field blend is where two or more different grape varieties are growing in separate parcels in the same field but then upon harvest are crushed, macerated and fermented together. Perhaps one can say the wine is blended in the field as opposed to being blended in the winery.
In this case we have a biodynamic “Field Blend” from Frey Vineyards at the headwaters of the Russian River in Mendocino County. The label and the Frey website do not indicate what grapes were in the field blend. My guess is Syrah (peppery), Zinfandel (spice) and Cabernet Sauvignon (blueberry)?
Aroma: Black cherry and blueberry predominate. A bit of a low rider or can I say aromatics point to a sluggish and slow wine. Nothing clear and precise.
Palate: Blunt and thick tasting. Cherry, blueberry, licorice and a bit of a spice and pepper to it. Sleepy tannins with some gentle acidity. Short finish. This wine detests room temperature and needs a bit of a chill to wake it up.
Personality: Sleeping Tiger Hidden Dragon.
Food Match: Most pasta sauces made with field tomatoes and their acidity would love this wine.
Cellarbility: No more sleep time needed for this groggy wine.
Price: $30 CDN (Ontario).
RKS 2024 Wine Rating: 87/100.Wine Align 86.
(Frey Biodynamic 2021 Field Blend, Mendocino, Frey Vineyards Ltd, Redwood Valley, California, 750 mL, 13.7%).
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