Behrens Family Winery Parts Unknown Red Blend Napa Valley 2018

Behrens Family Winery is a boutique winery in the truest sense. Les Behrens, (a former grave digger, turned woodworker, turned construction worker, turned restaurant owner, turned vintner...are you dizzy yet?) and his wife, Lisa Drinkward (former chef and currently a partner in the wine brand Drinkward Peschon), met in the northern Californian town of Arcata, and their partnership has moved at an electric pace ever since. In 1991, the two opened a restaurant called Folie Douce. Somewhere between Les managing the business and Lisa leading the line in the kitchen, the two found time to begin tinkering with winemaking in their garage. Les would make the grueling 10-hour round-trip to Napa and back, and the duo grew with every lesson of each vintage. It was also during this time, at their restaurant in fact, that Les and Lisa met their original business partners, Bob and Lily Hitchcock. The group established a wine brand, Behrens & Hitchcock in 1993, and Les and Lisa in particular never looked back. They sold Folie Douce in 1997 and relocated to Napa Valley. Today, the Hitchcocks are no longer involved in the business, and the label has shifted its name to Behrens Family Winery. Though Les and Lisa still do not own any vineyards, they purchased a property on Spring Mountain in 1999. Today, the family sources fruit from 10 different vineyards up and down the valley and has grown the brand to a point of great success! 

Parts Unknown is the newest addition to the Behrens Family portfolio, with 2018 being the sophomore vintage. The wine, made from Les and Lisa’s latest grape acquisition from a spectacular vineyard on the edge of Howell Mountain, had been well underway before the name was inspired. June 8th, back in 2018, the day world-renowned chef and explorer of humanity Anthony Bourdain passed away, was a day of great solace for chefs and followers around the globe. Les and Lisa were deeply affected by his passing and named this new wine after Anthony’s travel show, ‘Parts Unknown.’ It is a well-crafted blend of 30% Cabernet Franc, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, and 14% Syrah. Leading down a woodsy path of tobacco, currants, and black raspberry, the nose is chock full of earthy aromas. The mouthfeel is plush yet juicy and bright with well-integrated tannins and flavors of tart cherry, dark fruit, and cassis, leading into a lingering finish of white pepper and blueberry. No doubt, Anthony Bourdain would have enjoyed this wine with some obscure dish he discovered during his global culinary travels. We, the less adventurous, suggest a braised short rib or mushroom risotto. Only 172 cases produced.