Cartello's single-vineyard Carignan is a rarity from Sonoma: Phil Your Glass

Carignan is mainly a blending grape that’s grown in Spain, France, Sardinia, Chile, and the U.S. Wine geeks like myself who regularly read the back labels of the bottle have heard of the carignan grape. Discovering a wine made solely from carignan is similar to finding a four leaf clover.

Cartello cabernet and red blend wines have been in the Ohio market for 2 years. They are sourced entirely from Mila Family Vineyards, which is owned by Richfield residents Michael Oravecz and Loretta DiChiro. Cabernet, grenache, syrah, and carignan grapes are grown on their 54-acre Alexander Valley mountain estate.

Solon native Mike Laszlo, a partner in the Cartello project, along with former professional cyclist Craig Lewis and Oravecz, calls the 1-acre plot that sits atop of the estate "a crown jewel of a vineyard.” The vineyard has a stunning view of the Alexander Valley and is sun kissed by the Sonoma sunlight all day long.  At Mila Family, carignan is used mainly as a blending grape for their wonderful grenache-based Roco’s blend, and rosé of grenache.

The grapes are pampered from vine to bottle. Biodynamically farmed, hand-picked, cluster and berry sorted grapes are what makes this $31.99 bottle so special. Only 120 cases were produced, with fewer than 10 cases making the trip to the Stelvio Selections Midwest warehouse for distribution in Ohio. The last time that Cartello made this wine was 2018. Luckily in 2021, there was enough juice left over after blending for a Cartello single vineyard Carignan to be made.

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I wanted to make my meal as special as the wine I was drinking, so I picked up a long bone tomahawk pork chop from Heinen’s in Hudson, along with some sausage-stuffed mushrooms. While making a cherry tomato, white bean and cilantro salad, I enjoyed a few nibbles of Mimolette and Pleasant Ridge Reserve cheeses that are available at Heinen’s and Beau’s Market in Copley. Loved the rich plum and cherry aromas and flavors of this wine. It’s no wonder that it is served in numerous fine dining hot spots from Aspen, Colorado, to California.

Pick up a $14.99 box of F-Bombs while you are at the Heinen’s in Hudson. One of those silky chocolate delectables was the perfect way to finish off my lovely “Tomahawk Tuesday” dinner.

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Buy this wine at Beau’s Market in Copley, Krieger’s Market in Cuyahoga Falls, Western Reserve Wines in Solon, and Chuck's Fine Wines in Chagrin Falls. 

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cartello Carignan is a rare wine from Sonoma: Phil Your Glass