The first challenge of today’s wine: learning how to pronounce Cinsault. Turns out, it’s SaN-so, and it’s one of the key varietals grown in the famous Chateaunuf-du-Pape region in France. Believe it or not, there are more Cinsault vines in France than Cabernet Sauvignon vines.

Cinsault tends to produce delicious wines that have delicate body of a Pinot and the ripe berry fruit forwardness of a Zinfandel. Today’s Onesta Wines 2011 Bechtold Vineyard Lodi Cinsault certainly captures that combination beautifully, with Wine Enthusiast awarding today’s wine 90 Points. Please read what they had to say below:

“Made by Jillian Johnson, who long ago fell in love with the Bechthold Vineyard and whose last few vintages were under the Phoenix Ranch name. This is her first Onesta Cinsault. Shy, it takes some coaxing to reveal itself, blossoming into a textured, lean mix of the vineyard’s classic rhubarb flavor with a bit of strawberry mixed in. Streaks of spicy pepper come to life on the finish.”