Korbin Ming was pouring his wines at my local wine shop The Fine Wine Source in Livonia, Michigan and I think he was having as much fun as those that were there to taste the wines.  Now when I say special wines, to the wine maker, they are all special, but to the public, those that enjoy wines can appreciate the junctures that are sometimes offered.  Mitchell Ming first fell in love with the wines of northern California, then he found a property that he also fell in love with, and hoped that it would be ideal for his entire family to make wines together.  Korbin Ming is now the General Manager, Viticulturist and Winemaker, while his twin sister Kameron is the Wine Club Manager, and the younger sibling Kristin Ming is the Director of Design for Moonridge Vineyards.  Which bring us to Korbin Kameron Proprietary Red Blend Cuvee Kristin Moon Mountain District, Sonoma County 2019.  The Proprietary Red Blend is a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.  The wine is fermented and aged in French Oak, of which seventy-five percent is new, and ages for eighteen months; and one-hundred-fifty-five cases were made.  A nice deep garnet colored wine that offered notes of dark fruit, figs, and rose petals.  On the palate this was a big chewy wine, which is how I like them, as well as a good candidate for staining your teeth and offered tones of blueberries, dark cherries, cola, baking spices, and some pink peppercorn to entice you to have another glass.

Now for a limited production wine, that is not always offered, the last was from the 2016 vintage and we still have a couple of bottles left.  We had some Korbin Kameron Malbec Moon Mountain District, Sonoma County 2018.  Malbec is one of the forgotten grapes of the Medoc, as it gets so much attention from Cahoors and from Argentina.  The wine was fermented and aged in French Oak, of which half was new, for eighteen months; and there were thirty-five cases produced.  It was a classic inky-dark-purple color and offered notes of dates, plums, chocolate, and sous-bois.  On the palate it was fruit forward with tones of concentrated dark bramble fruit, tannins, and a medium count finish of terroir. 

Then we had another limited production wine, and the first one that I had encountered from the winery.  We had a glass of Korbin Kameron Petit Verdot Moon Mountain District, Sonoma County 2018. Petit Verdot is also one of the “Holy Five” varietals of the Medoc, and has mostly been used for blending, and mostly less than ten percent of the blend.  It is also a grape that appreciates the additional hours of daily sun that a mountain grown wine can get, as it usually requires a longer growing season.  The wine also enjoyed fermentation and aging in French Oak, of which half was new, for eighteen months; and thirty-one cases were made.  Another varietal that is appreciated for its deep-dark red color and offered notes of dark fruit, anise, violets, and dried herbs and spices.  On the palate a full-bodied wine that offered tones of plums, blackberries, dark cherries, hazelnut, vanilla blended with robust tannins, bright acidity, and a nice dry finish.