2021
Estate grenache
This wine allows us to explore the finesse and tension of our vineyards’ volcanic terroir. We aspire to crafting an elegant, transparent expression that is fragrant of and textured by the iron-rich basalt stones that underlie our vineyards.
Profile
Transparent ruby in color, complex aromas of strawberry, raspberry, rose petal, crushed stone, dried herbs and citrus rind lift from the glass. Refined tannins build a contoured and layered palate around pure red berry fruits, combining a bright freshness and a seamless minerality that gives the wine persistence and balance. The wine is accessible upon release and will continue to develop over the next ten years.
Vintage Notes and Technical Details
2021 was the second dry growing season in a sequence of historic drought years that began in 2020. Fortunately, our vineyards were on their fifth year of transition to dry farming, and the vines responded well to the drought conditions, achieving balanced growth and yielding a high-quality crop. This endurance was the result of the water deficit tolerance developed through dry farming in the previous years. We received 12 to 14 inches of total rain between Hamel Family Ranch and Nuns Canyon Vineyard — less than half of what we typically receive — with peak precipitation occurring in December 2020 and March 2021. After a cooler than average spring, the summer and the end of the season delivered normal warm and dry conditions. We began harvest with Sauvignon Blanc at Tres Palmas Vineyard on August 19th, and the harvest of the red grapes commenced on August 30th at Hamel Family Ranch and August 31st at Nuns Canyon Vineyard. Harvest was very compressed for the red varieties and ended on September 20th, marking the earliest finish to harvest we have on record. With a smaller crop load reflecting the conditions of the 2021 season, we found the wines to be characterized by balanced fruit, tremendous natural intensity, and power. Despite the historic drought conditions, we were able to dry-farm 74% of our total vineyards through the season.
- Blend: 100% Grenache
- Production: 539 Cases
- Appellation: Moon Mountain District
- Vineyard: 88% Nuns Canyon Vineyard, 12% Hamel Family Ranch
- Fermentation: 100% Stainless Steel Tanks with 20% Whole Clusters
- Aging: 16 Months in 89% Concrete Tanks, 11% Neutral French Oak 500L Barrels
- Bottling Date: February 22, 2023
- Harvest Dates: August 30 – September 7, 2021
- Alcohol: 14.1%
Explore Our Vineyards
To capture the complexity of our vineyards’ volcanic terroir, we embrace a level of precision, scale and knowledge that reflects the geologic contours of our place.