Ruth Lewandowski Dinos to Diamonds 2018

Dinos to Diamonds is Ruth Lewandowski's annual experimental bottling, a different wine every vintage and never repeated. The 2018 is a co-fermentation of 60% Merlot and 40% Sangiovese, both sourced from Fox Hill Vineyard on the Talmage Bench southeast of Ukiah in Mendocino County. The vineyard sits at approximately 650 feet elevation on sandy, rocky clay loam alluvial soils derived from sandstone, positioned on an uplifted former riverbed above the Russian River. All proceeds from this bottling were donated to Corazon Healdsburg in support of COVID-19 relief.

Winemaker Evan Lewandowski of Ruth Lewandowski Wines ferments with native yeasts using no additions, no fining agents, and no filtration. Sulfites are kept to a minimum. The grapes are hand-harvested and organically farmed. Co-fermentation of the two varieties integrates the Merlot's softer fruit character with the Sangiovese's higher acidity and herbal edge from the first moments of fermentation.

On the palate, the wine shows raspberry, dried herbs, and floral notes with a notably long finish. The Sangiovese component lifts the acidity and keeps the wine fresh, while the Merlot provides body and a plush mid-palate. This is a light-to-medium-bodied red that drinks well with minimal cellaring.

Fox Hill Vineyard grows an unusual concentration of Italian varieties for Mendocino, making it a natural fit for this Sangiovese-forward blend. The Talmage Bench climate mixes warm days with significant diurnal temperature swings, preserving the grape's natural acidity through ripening.