Winemaker Notes
Full of verve and tenacity, the 2019 Amor Fati Grenache sports raspberry, kirsch, and orange peel. The palate is linear with wonderful weight and richness through the mid-palate where flavors of strawberry, kirsch, and bouquet garni play.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 Amor Fati Murmur Vineyard Grenache is vivid, explosive, and lasting. TASTING NOTES: This wine shines with aromas and flavors of red raspberries, some black fruits, and shading of spice. Try it with a savory, slow-cooked lamb stew. (Tasted: August 23, 2022, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Enthusiast
Boysenberry, violet and anise aromas make for a dense nose in this bottling from a cool-climate vineyard. It's full in feel on the hefty sip, where baked berry flavors are surrounded by hints of charcoal and violet.
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.
A lesser-known but elite AVA within the larger Santa Barbara district, the Santa Maria Valley AVA runs precisely west to east starting near the coast. The valley funnels cool, Pacific Ocean air to the vineyards more inland, allowing grapes a longer hang time to ripen evenly and achieve their full potential by harvest time. Combined with minimal rainfall, consistent warm sunshine, and well-drained soils, it is an ideal environment for grape growing.
Many of the wineries here are small and highly respected, having established a reputation in the 1970s and 80s for producing excellent Central Coast wines like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. More recently, Syrah has also proven quite successful in the region. Many vineyards are owned by growers who sell their grapes to other wineries, so it is common to see the same vineyard name on bottlings from different wineries. Bien Nacido Vineyard is perhaps the best-known and most prestigious.