2019 Grenache

The 2019 Grenache marries textural richness with energy. It's a big wine, like all these wines are, but there is good vibrancy to the flavors. Sage, rose petal, mint and chocolate.

The 2019 Grenache is blended with 11% Mourvèdre, 6% Syrah and 4% Graciano and was made using 65% whole clusters. Fruit comes from the Slide Hill Vineyard in Edna Valley, and the Alta Mesa Vineyard, Larner Vineyard and Harrison-Clarke Vineyard in Santa Barbara County. It was matured for about 21 months in 50% new French barriques and 600-liter demi-muids and 50% used French barriques. Deep ruby in color, it opens with savory tones of tar and loamy earth that give way to potpourri, cinnamon stick, prosciutto and black cherries. The medium-bodied palate is bright and juicy with fragrant fruits, fine, grainy tannins and bright acidity, and it has a very long, latent, spicy finish hinting at further improvement in bottle. Bottled on August 21, 2021, and tasted May 25, 2022, it will be released to consumers in the summer of 2022. 395 cases and a few magnums are available; it will be packaged and sold as a three-bottle set ($330), while magnums will be offered as a box set with the 2019 Andremily EABA.

The 2019 Grenache is dark, bold and luscious. Macerated dark cherry, plum, leather, spice, menthol and tobacco are all dialed up. Vineyards sites are Alta Mesa, Larner, Harrison-Clarke and Slide Hill. The 65% whole clusters are pretty much buried by the sheer richness of the fruit, much of which is attributable to Alta Mesa, where the warmth of the site often bakes out the more savory qualities of the stems.