2018 HelpCureHD Red Wine

All proceeds benefitting HelpCureHD

Appellation

Santa Barbara County

Varietal

Red Blend

Wine Spectator

Wine Enthusiast

Jeb Dunnuck

Vinous

Vineyard Sources

82% Rodney's Vineyard, 16% Camp Four Vineyard, 1% Thompson Vineyard all located in the Santa Ynez Valley, 1% Stagecoach Vineyard in the Napa Valley

Barrel Aging

Aged 19 months in 10% new French & American oak

Technical Data

Composition

57% Syrah, 24% Petite Sirah, 19% Grenache

Alcohol %

14.9

Acidity

0.570 g/100mL

3.72

Harvest Date

10/9-10/24/18

Production

56 cases

Description

Fess Parker Winery has created a limited edition custom bottling in support of HelpCureHD which will be sold throughout the 2023 holiday season.

The wine will be available for purchase beginning in November at fessparkerwineshop.com and all proceeds will be donated to HelpCureHD.

HelpCureHD is a non profit organization that aims to help improve the quality of life for those affected by Huntington’s disease by contributing financial, emotional, and mental support while trying to find the cure.

Huntington’s disease is a hereditary brain disorder with no current known cure. Over 40,000 people are suffering from Huntington’s disease in the United States alone. The disease causes a deterioration in nerve cells, making it difficult to complete everyday tasks- walking becomes difficult, cognition slows, and the individual becomes completely unable to care for themselves.

Fess Parker Winery chose to support the HelpCureHD organization because Winery President Tim Snider’s family has been affected by Huntington’s. Tim’s father, Gary Snider, passed away from complications of the disease earlier this year.

The artwork selected for the front of the HelpCureHD bottling is an original piece of work by artist Debra Frederick titled “Lifted.” The winery came across the art because it was originally submitted to an “Art for Causes” fundraiser that benefited HelpCureHD. Debra’s art can be found and purchased at https://www.debfredart.com/.

The HelpCureHD bottling is a re-release of the 2018 vintage of the very popular Fess Parker red blend “The Big Easy” (which received 93 points from Antonio Galloni’s Vinous). The wine is a blend of 57% Syrah, 24% Petite Sirah and 19% Grenache, the majority of which is grown on Rodney’s Vineyard on the Fess Parker Home Ranch.

Wine Critic Reviews

"The 2018 Big Easy is a dense, plush opulent wine. The Big Easy fills the palate with masses of dark fruit, suggesting an ample, full-bodied character wine. Dark cherry, chocolate, licorice, new oak, leather and spice all build as the 2018 shows off its exuberant personality. A touch of new oak adds mid-palate richness and sweetness." ~ Antonio Galloni's Vinous "A jammy blend that's fun to drink, with bold, fruit-forward blackberry, mocha and spiced pepper favors that finish with refined tannins...Drink now through 2028." ~ Wine Spectator "Roasted blackberry, charred blueberry and smoked meat aromas waft toward the nose in this brawny bottling. It’s viscous, slightly waxy and rich on the sip, full of açaí, cassis and more smoked meat flavors." ~ Wine Enthusiast "The 2018 The Big Easy lives up to its name and is a big, showy, opulent, and certainly delicious red that has lots of plum and blackberry fruits, notes of chocolate and some subtle meatiness, full-bodied richness, and supple, ripe tannins. Drink this pleasure-bent beauty over the coming 3-4 years." ~ Jeb Dunnuck