When people think of Arizona, they don’t typically think of wine. Desert, yes. Searing heat, yes. Wine, no.
Arizona Stronghold Vineyards is changing that. Profiled in the documentary “Blood Into Wine” and lavished with stunned praise by the likes of prominent figures at Wine Spectator and The Wall Street Journal, ASV has spent the better part of five years showing the world that a great Arizona wine can be a great wine by any standard.
On the nose, voluptuous aromas of dark cherry, blackberry and spice emanate from the glass, all of them expanding and deepening when you take a sip. Red plums and pomegranate join the dark fruits with flawless synergy. then more layers are revealed: tingly black pepper, anise, vanilla and violets. All that fruitiness and perfume is balanced with good acidity, supple tannins and a bit of earth.