Folk Machine Charbono 2023The 2023 Folk Machine Charbono leans into Californias darker, more idiosyncratic side with a grin. Inky blackberry skin, mulberry, and crushed violets lead, followed by cracked pepper, iron rich earth, and a faint whiff of smoked herbs. Theres a gentle feral edgesomething wild but well behavedwrapped around juicy acidity and fine, grippy tannins that keep it lively rather than heavy. It drinks like a rediscovered backroad grape given a fresh voice:

There’s a faint herbal edge—something between fennel frond and seaside grass—that keeps the fruit brisk rather than pretty

is the backbone that evokes the soil of calcareous origin

and pencil lead

with every sixth vine being Carignane

Willamette Valley Pinot tasted like Burgundy

but to preserve something bigger than any one label

this opens with very dark fruit and layered earth tones—black cherry

yet Mother Nature stamps each vintage with a unique set of flavors

stony edge

high-energy Bugey that prizes freshness and place over polish

Savory herbal tones and a faint smoky bitterness run through the mid-palate

They make three wines - Cab