2010 Banshee "Mordecai" Red Blend

What happens when a winery is able to secure small lots of fruit from some of the best vineyards in California, but not in large enough quanties to make affordable wine? Banshee's Mordecai is one winery's delicious solution. The 2010 Mordecai Proprietary Red consists of thirteen different varietals in all, but several varietals take center stage: Napa Cabernet sets the tone with an intense core of dark fruit and solid tannic structure as Syrah, Grenache, and Cabernet Franc add spice, body, and lift in a sort of Bordeux-meet's Rhone story set in California. The cooler than average 2010 growing season comes through in the form of this wine's exceptional fragrance and elegant stature. Like the 2009, this is a polished and well-balanced blend available at a fraction of what you'd pay for single vineyard or single varietal wines from the vineyards they have access to. (They mention vineyard sources like Whitehawk, Alder Springs, Grist and Parmalee Hill as potential sources, but they can't actually reveal what they get from where.)