2020 GRENACHE EN PASSERILLAGE

Vineyard Notes

Composition

100% Grenache

Appellation

Santa Maria Valley

Vineyard

Rancho Réal

Alcohol Content

14.67% Cases Produced

600 cases

Winemaking & Élevage

Grenache is said by some to resemble Pinot Noir, in so far as its need for gentle extraction and susceptibility to oxidation; the variety does not have the ‘density,’ if you will, of more structured varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, thus any edges or flaws (such as astringency or bitterness) tend to stand out in greater relief. Since this vintage was the first time Randall had the pleasure to work with grapes from the Rancho Réal Vineyard, it seemed useful to experiment with different approaches to phenolic extraction. He split the lot of grapes into two and adopted a punchdown regime with one and a pump-over regime with the other. The pump-over tank was initially more expressive than the punchdown one, but ultimately, he felt that the punchdown technique led to more structure and depth in the resultant wine. As with the Syrah, he allowed the Grenache grapes to air dry on paper mats for three days prior to re-collection, with the aim of lignifying stems and allowing the grapes to recompose themselves prior to the onset of fermentation. The wine was aged in larger vessels to minimise the amount of oxygen ingress in its élevage.

Tasting Notes

Medium healthy red colour, with nary a sign of brown at the rim. Nose of strawberry/rhubarb and peach, with a possible suggestion of citrus, viz. blood orange. Definite notes of autumnal spice - cloves, allspice and hints of sandalwood or other scented candle one might find in the boudoir of an ageing hippie. Good volume on the palate: the wine seems to expand with exposure to air in the way that inspirational Pinot/Burgundy sometimes does. Not at all densely tannic, but extremely persistent on the palate. Contradicting all the received wisdom: Grenache is a grape capable of great elegance and complexity (as this wine shows) and one certainly destined to live for many years.

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