Winemaker Notes
Notes of Khus attar, rose petal and saffron.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Cherries, strawberries, white flowers, and hints of sappy herbs all emerge from the 2017 Grenache Vie Caprice Vineyard, another ethereal, elegant, yet structured wine. Lightly colored, yet nicely textured and balanced, it's going to benefit from a year in bottle. This cuvée is all Grenache that was 56% destemmed and aged 11 months in 9% new French oak.
Rating: 91(+?)
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Wine & Spirits
Light and spicy, with a scent of wild strawberries and a mildly bitter hint of herbs, this wine is lean and angular. The berry flavors deepen to cherry and tobacco with air. Chill it lightly for a turkey breast with roasted mushrooms.
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Wine Spectator
Spirited cherry, white pepper and wild flower aromas lead to tightly focused flavors that build density toward fine-grained tannins. Best after 2020.
Grenache thrives in any warm, Mediterranean climate where ample sunlight allows its clusters to achieve full phenolic ripeness. While Grenache's birthplace is Spain (there called Garnacha), today it is more recognized as the key player in the red blends of the Southern Rhône, namely Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône and its villages. Somm Secret—The Italian island of Sardinia produces bold, rustic, single varietal Grenache (there called Cannonau). California, Washington and Australia have achieved found success with Grenache, both flying solo and in blends.
Ranging from cool and foggy in the west to warm and dry in the east, the Santa Ynez Valley is a climatically diverse growing area. The most expansive AVA within the larger Santa Barbara County region, Santa Ynez is also home to a wide variety of soil types and geographical features. The appellation is further divided into four distinct sub-AVAs—Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon—each with its own defining characteristics.
A wide selection of grapes is planted here—more than sixty different varieties, and counting. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate in the chilly west, while Zinfandel, Rhône blends, and Bordeaux blends rule the arid east. Syrah is successful at both ends of the valley, with a lean and peppery, Old-World sensibility closer to the coast and lush berry fruit further inland.