Youthful bright ruby color with forward red cherry and plum aromas. There is a floral component reminiscent of roses or gardenias that is accented with sandalwood, black tea leaves and pencil shavings.  The flavors remain true to the intriguing bouquet with mouth-filling fruit and a bit of white pepper on the long, lingering finish.  Tannins are sweet and present enough to provide for some aging, but this wine is meant to be consumed while it is young and fresh.

As spring is upon us and the weather is more conducive to outdoor activities, this wine is the perfect accompaniment to the first barbecue of the season. It is a great match with grilled chicken or tri-tip and I cannot imagine a better wine to drink with a cheeseburger. It even went well with jalepeno jelly glazed salmon that I roasted last night!

A complex white wine blend with an array of ripe aromas and flavors – pear, fig, honey, peach and vanilla with a full, creamy mouthfeel. Finishes clean with a nice lingering hint of spice and orange peel.

This wine is well-suited for relaxing in the backyard with a plate of cheese and crackers, or as an accompaniment to virtually any fish or chicken dish. I had it with grilled pork loin last night and it was a perfect match.

The Chariot Gypsy 2008 is a delicious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Sangiovese from great vineyards in the Napa Valley, Sonoma, San Joachin, and Monterey counties.

Winemakers Jeff Hunsaker, Marco DiGiulio and Nancy Walker describe the wine like this:

     "The 2008 ‘Gypsy’ displays a dark garnet color with a clear violet edge. It shows mixed fresh berry aromas -- raspberry and strawberry, with hints of white pepper and pastry. Very clean and lively with juicy berry fruit, firm acidity and a touch of smooth tannin. Excellent and versatile food wine particularly well suited for pork chops and poultry".

We think it is the perfect everyday red wine!

Chariot Wines founder Jim Neal developed a passion for wine long before working as a chef at such revered restaurants as Spago in Hollywood and Terra in Napa Valley. His winemaking mentors include Mike Chelini of Stony Hill Vineyards, Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards, David Abreu, Abreu Vineyards, and Ric Forman, Forman Vineyard, all of whom Jim was fortunate to work with in developing a winemaking style.

Also the creator of Fusion Napa Valley Verjus, Neal has been closely associated with the food and wine industries throughout his career, and understands the importance of their compatibilities.

Jeff Hunsaker joined Jim Neal Wines and took the reins as winemaker in 2008. With over ten years experience at Joseph Phelps Vineyards in St. Helena, and many years of experience in the food service industry, Jeff’s winemaking technique and palate have been developed in the wine trade and by market-driven experience.

The two met while working together at Vincent’s on Camelback, a restaurant in Phoenix, AZ in 1986. Neal and Hunsaker discovered a love for wines and food, and with some hard work and a lot of fun, transformed a friendship into a successful partnership making and marketing wines in the Napa Valley.

It has become our mission to “produce refreshing, high-quality food-friendly wines at palatable prices”.

Chariot “Gypsy” wines are available exclusively though Trader Joe's.

Fusion Napa Valley Verjus is available nation-wide from FoodMatch, Inc. through their regional distribution alliances.

Watch for our new product - N₂Wines, premium "Wines On Tap" at your local restaurant or wine bar.

www.verjus.com