Cana's Feast Winery Chinato d'Erbetti

Cana's Feast Winery (Bin 75) : 18 botanicals; see through dull red; herbal, bitter, cinnamon, spice, quinine, dried red fruit, orange peel; spicy, tea, tannic, dry, some sweetness, good mid; interesting, very good and the only example I know of domestic Chinato.

This is quite possibly the strangest liquid that has ever crossed my lips. Pours a bright dark red. First impression is that this is the love child of Campari and a mulled wine. Nose of an armful of botanicals -- orange peel, clove, mace, cinnamon, quinine, and black pepper. It tastes a bit like Vicks Formula 44 cough syrup crossed with an orange peel. It tastes less bitter to me than Campari and just a touch sweet. This is...weird. At …

7th in a flight of 7 at the tasting room. I can't describe this in the usual way. Its a fortified aperitif wine. In the glass: Deep garnet. On the nose: Fragrant with herbs, floral and spices like cloves. In the mouth: Sweet like mulled wine, medicinal herbs, bitter. A bit too strong, but would be best as a splash to a mixed drink.

OK, I scored this one high because I like it. But bear in mind that since there are not many chinatos available I don't have much to compare it to. Great spice of orange peel, anise and a lot of other flavors. Suffice it to say that there is a whole lot going on here! Drank over several days as both an aperitif and digestif.

By far the most interesting wine of the evening, and probably not for everyone. However, this fortified wine is infused with 18 different herbs, spices, flowers, and aromatic botanicals. I don't think I can describe it any better than the vintner does... "Pronounced aromas of black pepper, alpine flowers, sandalwood and exotic herbs rise expansively from the glass. Flavors of cardamom, sarsaparilla, citrus and rose petal tease your palate." Used as a digestivo at the end of the evening it …

Vermouth style, red orange color, very very dry.