Bring Black Roses takes the classic idea of Mixed Blacks and goes Black Sabbath on it.

We didn't just want to make a tame red blend, we wanted to make a black blend for those wild at heart. The idea of "mixed blacks" is an old one, harkening back to hodgepodge field blends of grapes that were uncommonly combined together. So we took that concept and decided to go so dark that even Hot Topic thinks we went too far.

We started with the dark lord itself, 69% Petite Sirah from Kalin Vineyard in Calistoga. Exposed to sinisterly hot summer days, and chilly nights, this stuff concentrates deep, dense flavor and color. To round out the blend, we turned to our old friend with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon from Temple Ranch to add a bit of lush opulence, and lastly, 14% Zinfandel for some spice.

Together these forces deliver a wine that's oozing with black fruit character. The dark ruby color is sexy, but the black cherry and rose petal aromas really make this wine seductive. On the palate, we get these silky smooth, round flavors reminiscent of blackberry cobbler plus raspberry, huckleberry, and some cocoa for good measure. Really, though, this wine rules.

Emblazoned with black roses on the label, we bottled just 245 cases of Bring Black Roses, our first Mixed Blacks.