Don't call it a comeback.
Your eyes aren't deceiving you. The legendary, undisputed, heavyweight champion is back to cap off our 10th anniversary. The Heavy is isn't just one of the bottles that put Tank Garage Winery on the map, it's a true icon of the wine game. And it's better than ever.
We took the classic Napa Valley Cab blueprint of the original and put it through a Rocky-esque training montage. We're talking top tier fruit, impeccable sorting, and the long, extended French oak barrel macerations that all your favorite cult wines use. The result, a champion red wine in prime fighting shape.
This re-issue is comprised of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot, and 7% Cabernet Franc, all sourced from Napa Valley like the original. After sorting and de-stemming, we place the berries in new topless French oak barrels to ferment. While some might press out the wine after the fermentation is over, we let the juice soak into the skins for an extended time after.
This prolonged skin contact enhances the integration of tannins and creates velvety texture in the wine. It's not for the impatient or frugal winemaker, but the results cannot be replicated. After pressing out the barrels to wine, we let them age in 50% new French oak barrels for about 18 months to further evolve and intensify into a world-class contender.
As the name suggests, The Heavy is a heavy hitter. Deep, inky garnet in color with noticeable body and weight. Intense aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, violet, and dark plum flume out of the glass. On the palate, this robust wine coats your tongue with ripe blackberries, cassis, dark chocolate, savory herbs, and espresso, leading to a finish that goes the distance. The texture is velvety smooth, the tannins perfectly integrated, and perfectly balanced acidity tells us this champ will be able to fight for decades to come.
As with the OG, the bottle showcases John L. Sullivan, the last heavyweight bare-knuckle boxing champion, with his dukes up. Known as the "Boston Strong Boy," Sullivan nearly undefeated prizefighter and a cultural icon of the late 19th century. One look at this image tells you exactly what's in the bottle.
This limited-edition re-issue of The Heavy is available in limited quantities and likely the last chance you'll have to get in the ring with the champ.
