A new wine label on my store's shelf showcases cuffed hands in close-up black and white. It is quite eye-catching; almost startling.
Luna Winery names this red blend Lunatic... hmmm. Crazy good wine? Disturbingly delicious? I don't know.
This is what I do know. "Lunatic" is actually defined as, "crazy, depending on the phase of the moon." I did drink it when the moon was exactly 100% of Full (Sunday, November 17). And, call me crazy, I really liked this wine.
Lunatic is a non-typical blend of 68% Syrah, 23% Sangiovese, 6% Petite Sirah, and 3% Grenache. Many of these grapes are sourced from cooler California counties, creating a wine that edges toward a leaner body. I found Lunatic to be full of fruit, but not overripe, jammy fruits as a result.
Lots of earthy aromas are present in this darkly-colored wine, including leather, cedar, smoke and currants.
At the entry, the wine is soft with flavors of black cherry. There is a pleasant fruit burst mid-palate with blackberry, plum and currant. Some toasty oak and spice add to the fruits. The finish is, dare I say it, crazy good! Oak and spice, along with currant and sweet chocolate linger on together forever.
Some say the full moon makes people act a little crazy. Other than two owls hooting on my rooftop, nothing strange happened at all. I simply enjoyed a solid, well-made wine that just happens to be named Lunatic, in the light of the full moon.
