GRENACHE IS ONE OF THE MOST WIDELY PLANTED WINEGRAPES ON EARTH.  MOST EXPERTS THINK SHE COMES FROM SPAIN (GARNACHA), OTHERS SAY SHE’S FROM THE ITALIAN ISLAND OF SARDINIA (CANNONAU).  GRENACHE MADE HER WAY EAST, WAS ESTABLISHED IN SOUTHERN FRANCE BY THE 19TH CENTURY, AND IS NOW THE DOMINANT VARIETY IN MOST SOUTHERN RHÔNE WINES, LIKE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE.  THE VINES ARE BIG AND BEEFY, AND NEED A LONG GROWING SEASON TO GET FULLY RIPE.  THE GRAPE SKINS ARE THIN SO THE WINES CAN BE LIGHT IN COLOR.  GRENACHE USUALLY TASTES LIKE BERRY FRUIT (RASPBERRIES AND STRAWBERRIES), AND CAN DEVELOP  INTENSE NOTES OF BLACK CURRANTS, BLACK CHERRIES, GINGERBREAD, HONEY, LEATHER, BLACK PEPPER, TAR, SPICES AND ROASTED NUTS.

OUR GRAPES WERE SOURCED FROM 3 SANTA BARBARA COUNTY VINEYARDS – ESTELLE (21%), CAMP FOUR (15%) AND RODNEY’S (65%).  THIS WINE WAS MADE BY  HAND-PICKING THE GRAPES AND C0-FERMENTING ALL THE VINEYARDS.  WE DID ABOUT 25% WHOLE CLUSTER (STEMS AND ALL) FOR THE 30 DAYS IT SPENT ON SKINS.  WE BASKET PRESSED, THEN MATURED THE WINE IN  NEUTRAL AND 2 YR OLD FRENCH OAK BARRELS.  IT WAS RACKED ONCE.  WE BOTTLED 55 CASES IN DECEMBER OF 2009.  THIS WINE IS APPROACHABLE UPON RELEASE AND SHOULD BE ROCKIN IT OVER THE NEXT 5-7 YEARS.

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