Arbuckle Ridge Red Blend 57 Octave Below Middle C Templeton Gap District 2020

The name “57 Octaves Below Middle C” is apparently the whipping and guttural sound a black hole makes, and that’s exactly what 5th-generation-Paso-Roblan winemaker Scott Saunders said he finally crawled out of when he created this majestic and bold red blend. Scoring 93 POINTS, this is truly a standout and rare wine – only 150 cases made – that we can’t believe we were able to capture for 70% OFF!

The bottle’s label, a distorted film photograph of what looks like the horizon of a black hole, no doubt hints that Scott was going through a challenge of sorts as he built up to the creation of this beautifully rich blend. He says he desired to make a wine that “stood out like no other wine you can find on the market,” which can, of course, unleash a bottomless pit of endless blending possibilities. With a specialty background in making cabernet sauvignon for his family’s vineyard, Saunders Vineyard, Scott spent months in blending trials before coming up with this ultimately unique, grippy, subtly spicy, and berry-forward blend of 56% tempranillo, 30% syrah, 7% mourvedre, and 7% grenache.

Scott’s parents, Debi and Jim Saunders, were actually the first producers to plant cabernet sauvignon in Paso Robles in 1992. He grew up sneaking out of the house during harvest nights and, after witnessing the parties and hoorah at the nearby cellar, his intrigue in winemaking only grew. (Man after our own hearts.) He spent years working on his parents’ land before officially opening up his own tiny, family-run label, Arbuckle Ridge. Named for the dominating soil type within the vineyard – Arbuckle soil, a magnesium-rich clay that retains moisture impeccably – Arbuckle Ridge experiences a 500-foot elevation change from the bottom of the vineyard to the top. 

While he still specializes in cab, he also produces myriad bold red varietals and blends for the ages. Our offer today is one we seriously can’t get enough of…fruit-forward and earthy, toasty and warm – this is a blend whose “palate grips in a firm yet forgiving way, as a vibrant acidity pushes flavors of dark fruit, brown spice and vanilla bean through the palate,” as Matt Kettmann said best in his 93-point Wine Enthusiast review. We couldn’t agree more wholeheartedly – and find the bold notes of baked cherry pie, roasted plum, chai spice, and cinnamon, plus toasted oak beautifully balanced alongside the lingering hints of wet earth and coffee spice. Deep, dark, intensely rich, yet not overpowering – this wine named after the deepest note ever recorded in our universe is one to try ASAP, especially when you can get it for OVER 50 bucks off of normal retail! Unheard of!!! Truly a unique, exquisite wine you need to get ahold of to believe!