Aged for 18 months in French and American oak barrels.
The aromas of cranberry, sage, anise, and blood orange are accompanied by spices such as leather, cumin, and cardamom. There are also nuances of baked goods such as cherries, raspberries, and chocolate, and the firm tannins and acidity are well balanced.
For Edgar Torres, who came to the United States from Mexico with his family at the age of 8, starting his own wine brand was the realization of the American dream. Torres first became interested in winemaking while working as a waiter at a restaurant in wine country. His first step was as a "cellar rat" (a person who does odd jobs at a winery), a path that many winemakers have taken. While working as a cellar rat, he met many winemakers in Paso Robles. At one of them, Hug Cellars, he learned about winery management in general, not only as an assistant winemaker, but also as a customer service representative in the tasting room and a wine club manager. In 2009, he left Hug Cellars and worked as an assistant at Barrel 27 Wine Company, which was next door to him at the time, while also starting his own brand, Bodega de Edgar (Edgar's Winery). "Both owners were very generous and generous in sharing their know-how to grow their brands and supporting me," Torres says.
The turning point came in 2014, when the owner of Hug Cellars decided to retire. Torres knew very well how great Hug Cellars was and how popular it was with its customers, so he felt it would be a shame to let the winery go. Oggy Hug had loved Torres like a son and raised him as a winemaker, so when Torres asked to take over the Hug Cellars name, he readily accepted. Hug Cellars has built a very good relationship with the farms that have supplied grapes to it, and the growers understand the expectations and conditions for cultivation and faithfully adhere to them. Torres, who is familiar with Oggy's methods, is determined to follow those methods and firmly protect the Hug Cellars brand. Meanwhile, Bodega de Edgar makes wine mainly from Spanish varieties, which is his background.
Although the varieties they handle are different, the philosophies and goals of the two brands are very similar. Wine is a gift that Mother Earth gives to humans. We put the thoughts of everyone involved in wine together with the farms and workers who carefully cultivate the grapes without betraying nature into the wine. The "Bodega de Edgar" brand was adopted by local high-end restaurants immediately after its launch, and its name is gradually becoming more well-known. Industry insiders who know his solid abilities expect that the day when this new brand will attract a lot of attention is not far off.