Collaboration: The action of working with someone to produce or create something.
The world has known many famous collaborations. Take modern music for example. There would be no jazz music without collaboration. Can you imagine rock and roll without Lennon and McCartney, Simon and Garfunkel, and Jagger and Richards? Sometimes the unexpected collaborations lead to success such as Bowie and Bing singing “Little Drummer Boy,” or Aerosmith joining in Run DMC’s cover of “Walk This Way.” We have also been blessed by great comedic collaborations such as Laurel and Hardy, the Three Stooges, and Lucy and Ethel. When two gifted winemakers collaborate the results are often magnificent.
Bruce Patch began his career in the music industry. He once met the Beatles and helped discover The Cars. Bruce left his home of Boston and headed to the west coast to focus on classic R&B, Doo Wop artists, and contemporary South Pacific music. It was there Bruce met his partner, artist Andrea Cleall. Over time Bruce moved to the Russian River Valley and began distributing boutique Sonoma County wines. It was during this time his love of wine was born. He went from selling wine to studying wine to making wine. Bruce is known for crafting full body red wines, most famously his lush zinfandels. To learn more about Bruce Patch Wines read my article, “Rockin and Rollin with Bruce Patch Wines.”
Russian River Vineyards is one of Sonoma’s oldest wineries. Dating back to 1963, the vineyard is home to the oldest Merlot vines in the Valley. Today it is a thriving winery producing high quality wines. Russian River Vineyards is an organic, sustainable, winery. The vineyards are dry farmed and all pests are controlled by the resident bat colony. The Russian River Vineyards Restaurant and Farm features a delicious farm to table menu.
So what happens when a well-known Sonoma County winemaker who produces big, bold Zinfandels collaborates with a well-respected organic Russian River Valley winery known for crafting elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and other red and white wines? You get Equavinity.
“Equavinity represents a collaboration between two Sonoma icons – zinfandel impresario Bruce Patch and Russian River Vineyards, one of West Sonoma County’s most recognizable wineries. You’ll find these wines reflect the best of both.”
2014 Equavinity Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast USA ($48): clear, pale ruby in the glass; clean medium aromas of bright red fruit, rose petals, dried savory herbs, white tea notes, a lingering hint of fresh picked mint and vanilla; medium+ acidity, tannins, body, and finish; a rich Pinot Noir with a silky mouth-feel, beautiful balance of juicy fruit with complex earthiness; well-structured wine with layers of flavors and textures; delicious.
2013 Equavinity ‘Landy Vineyard’ Zinfandel Russian River Valley USA ($30): clear, deep purple; clean medium+ aromas of black cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, plums, dried red flowers, cherry cola, dark chocolate, espresso, pepper, sweet baking spices, damp tobacco leaves, eucalyptus, and fading Worchester sauce; medium+ acidity, tannins, and finish; full body; lush and expansive, well-balanced and powerful, a big zin lovers wine, balanced and age-worthy; another over-deliverer for the price.
*Disclaimer: These wines were media samples; all thoughts and opinion are my own.
Visit Bruce Patch Wines to order these wines for yourself.
My Song Selection: These wines were layered, complex, and full-bodied. Beautifully crafted and quite pleasing. Going back to the beginning of collaboration, I believe one of the most important music collaborations of all time is Lennon/McCartney. Although Lennon wrote some songs and McCartney wrote others they agreed early on to joint credit for all their songs. This is one of the more complex (or possibly simplest) songs they wrote.
Get your own bottles of Equavinity wines and let me know what song you pair with them. Cheers!
