This is Broc Cellars' second vintage of carignane from an ancient, 120-year-old vineyard in Alexander Valley. These head trained bush vines are planted on their own roots and farmed without irrigation (dry-farming), a practice that forces the root system to plunge deep into rocky soils in search of water. Advocates of dry-farming believe that it helps build complexity into a wine. For 2010, Broc Cellars leaned more toward the Roussillon than Beaujolais, and slightly decreased the amount of carbonic fermentation in the final blend. This wine is bursting with vivid red fruit aromas and bright berry flavor and feels richer across the palate, with greater mineral depth and a bit more weight than the previous vintage. As always, the wine was fermented naturally with indigenous yeasts with no additives.