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29 Jan Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Tizona by Bokisch 2021 Old Vine Carignan, Mule Plane Vineyard, Lodi
You know those nights when you have very little food in the kitchen and you need to find something to eat for dinner? That was my issue this week as I looked at the ingredients I had left and thought about what I would make for dinner. While putting my meal together took some thought, my wine pairing did not. I opened the Tizona by Bokisch 2021 Old Vine Carignan, Mule Plane Vineyard, Lodi because I knew the Carignan would be a versatile food pairing wine and that is why it is the Please The Palate wine of the week.
About Tizona by Bokisch
Tizona by Bokisch is a companion label for Bokisch Vineyards in Lodi. For Liz and Markus Bokisch, Spain is the country in their hearts. Markus spent his summers as a child in Spain and after he and Liz met at UC Davis, they moved to Spain in 1992 and traveled the country in a 1967 VW van. So, when they first bought land in 1995 in Lodi, it is not surprising that they brought cuttings from Spain and planted them in California. They started with the 20-acre Terra Alta Vineyard in the Clements Hills AVA of Lodi and in 1997 they purchased La Cerezas where they developed a small three-acre organic vineyard. In this three-acre vineyard, they planted one acre each of Albariño, Tempranillo, and Graciano and were the very first to plant Graciano in the new world.
In 2014, Bokisch started a new label, Tizona, to celebrate the French varieties grown in the Central Valley. Tizona is the name of the battle sword of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, famously known as El Cid, a formidable military leader and nobleman in medieval Spain. The sword was more than a blade, it was a symbol of El Cid’s prowess and the respect he commanded. And written on the sword is “I am Tizona, Made in the year 1040.” Tizona is a symbol of the enduring spirit of Spain.
Living in Lodi, Markus and Liz are surrounded by traditional varieties like Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, Chardonnay was one of the first grapes they planted in Lodi, followed by Merlot and Syrah. Eventually Markus made Chardonnay for a custom crush client and he loved the result. Markus also decided he want to try his hand at old vine Zinfandel. This was how the Tizona label started. But ultimately he shifted the brand’s focus to French varieties like old vine Carignan, Syrah, Malbec, and Picpoul Blanc.
Markus and Liz farm most of the grapes they work with but they source some fruit from vineyards that share Markus and Liz’s commitment to sustainable wine grape growing. They use native yeasts and neutral oak in order to highlight the fruit and let the vineyard express itself.
Tasting Notes
The 2021 Old Vine Carignan comes from the Mule Plain Vineyard in Lodi. Located on the west side of the Lodi AVA in the Mokelumne River sub-AVA, Mule Plane Vineyard is approximately 1300 feet from the river. This vineyard is exposed to the Delta breeze during the spring and summer months, thus creating high and low temperature fluctuations of over 40 degrees between night and day. This vineyard was planted in 1932, the year Prohibition ended. The head-trained vines are 90 years old and own-rooted. It is one of three vineyards remaining of old vine Carignan.
The Carignan was aged for 18 months in neutral French oak. The wine is a deep garnet color with aromas of dark red fruits, subtle spice, and earthy notes. The wine is medium-bodied with bright acidity and delicate tannins.
Food Pairing
Old Vine Carignan pairs well with a variety of foods. It can be enjoyed with roasted meats, charcuterie, smoked meats, poultry, full-flavored cheeses, eggplant dishes, and vegetable pastas. Combining ingredients that I had in my kitchen, I whipped up a pasta with tomatoes, zucchini, artichoke hearts and tuna and sprinkled a little Parmesan cheese on top. The Carignan was a complimentary pairing and I continued to enjoy it even after I finished my dinner.
Where to Purchase
Tizona is a small brand with only 100-200 cases per wine produced. The wines are primarily sold direct-to-consumer through the tasting room and website. The Tizona by Bokisch 2021 Old Vine Carignan, Mule Plane Vineyard, Lodi retails for $39 and only 91 cases were produced. The wine can be purchased, along with other Tizona wines, at Bokisch Vineyards.
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