75% Tempranillo, 10% Grenache, 10% Pinot Noir, 5% Graciano, a blend of mostly Spanish varietals in a uniquely California wine celebrating lightness of being and minerality in a wine of rich texture and spice.
Vineyards: Rorick Heritage Vineyard, Shake Ridge Ranch, Heron Lake Vineyard
Winemaking: The grapes were partially de-stemmed into open top fermenters where the grapes were gently foot tread or punched down no more than once a day during a native yeast fermentation. The wine was aged for 11 months in a combination of 500L and 225L French oak barrels, including 10% new.
Notes from winemaker John Lockwood: 2018 was the first year including a little Grenache ? a traditional blending grape in Rioja. Tempranillo still provides the architecture, with precise dark fruit, sweetly spiced aromatics and a touch of earthiness. Grenache and Pinot provide soft fruit and a more generous palate, and the Graciano provides brightness. The wine is dark toned ? but light in body, with precise tannins that soften quickly. It drinks extremely fresh on first pour but opens up with a luxurious mouth feel and a deep sense of umami if you give it time. With food it is quite nimble. The blend of light and dark, savory and sweet compliments a wide array of flavors, pairing with everything from steak, to fish and vegetables. Anything with a little too much salt makes it pop!
black cherry, strawberry cordial, basil leaf, black walnut, marshmallow, with a finish both juicy and stony