The Cliff Notes: The garnet color of this wine is matched with an intensely concentrated nose of dark cherry, ripe blackberry, cinnamon, agave, persimmon and Mexican hot chocolate. The palate is full, ripe and savory with cherry, peach, stone-fruit and earth carried on a round and persistent core of fresh acidity. The boldness is matched to a fine-gripped and balanced structure that allows the wine to go on and on.

Cases Produced: 1346

The Name: Provocateur is French for troublemaker. And the wine plays very French. An inciting red, it’s more Pied Piper than antagonist.

A Story: Sometimes you work your ass off, only to be left with, well, your ass worked off. And yet it’s remarkable. In a tough economy, the sweat is still better than all the posturing, standing still or movement towards crybaby. Hard work, good work, has nothing to do with pay. It’s the job done that hones your chops and tests your metal, makes sure you’re all in. The time (spent), the vineyards (sourced), the barrels (chosen) in this wine are uncompromised and ridiculously high in quality. For our part, we got stronger hands and knowledge. We also own the certainty that you’re going to enjoy the hell out of this. All the rest made, paid and laid is loose change.

The Building of: Small-lot wild yeast fermentations in open-top stainless steel tanks. Limited pre-ferment maceration, followed by minimal, but targeted temperature and punchdown intervention. 100% barrel aged for 17 months in French oak, 4% new/21% one year year/26% two year/49% older. Racked and bottled, unfined and unfiltered, in March of 2010.

Ageability: Drink now to five years and think about getting it some air in the first three.

Alcohol: 13%

pH: 3.69

Vineyards: A blend of seven vineyards, Temperance Hill (28 years), Anderson Family (18 years), Black Walnut (5 years), Shea (11 years), Gemini (17 years), Momtazi (10 years), and Sheppard (10 years) — some of the best in the state.