2013 Relic Ritual

The 2013 Ritual, Relic's Rhône-based red, is quite intense and powerful. Hints of licorice, earthiness, smoke and rose petal are laced into a core of dark red-fleshed fruit. There is no shortage of fruit or overall depth, but the Ritual doesn’t quite have the same expressiveness or nuance of the single-variety wines. There is still plenty to like, but the single most important reason for creating blends - the idea that the whole is greater than the parts - doesn't really come through here.