(Originally published June 2008)

We recently tasted the latest vintage of a wine that we just have a particular fondness for — as much for the concept as the wine itself.

It’s the Casa Nuestra Tinto — actually, this time we tasted the Tinto Classico. It’s made from a “field blend” of grapes, meaning that the vineyard is not planted to any one particular grape variety. Instead, the vineyard (which in this case was originally planted sometime before 1956) is planted to a collection of varietals, some of which cannot even be identified.

Field blends were fairly common a few generations ago, but are largely an outdated concept today. But at Napa Valley’s Casa Nuestra, in a nod to history, they have not only maintained the original field blend vineyard in Oakville, they’ve reproduced the vineyard in St. Helena by taking cuttings and t-budding them onto vines.

The Tinto Classico comes from the original Oakville vineyard and may contain anything from Zinfandel to Petite Sirah, along with Cabernet Pfeffer, Alicante Bouschet, Mourvedre, Napa Gamay and Cabernet Sauvignon, among others. The grapes varieties are not separated at any time during the winemaking process — it’s just all mixed up together.

The results? Here are our notes on the 2006 vintage:

Casa Nuestra 2006 Tinto Classico Oakville Estate Old Vines ($40). With lovely, complex, concentrated aromas and flavors, this wine is fruit-driven without being overripe or particularly full-bodied. Intense wild blackberry, raspberry and plum fruit is laced with understated baking spices, fresh herbal notes, tobacco leaf and creamy oak, with a long, focused finish. Ready to drink now and over the next three or four years. Locate this wine online or in your area.