Winemaker Notes
Blend: 93% Grenache, 7% Syrah
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2013 Grenache is fabulous. The darker side of Grenache comes through in a rich wine built on texture and volume. Bold, inky and intense, the 2013 boasts superb personality from start to finish. The blend is 93% Alban clone Grenache and 7% Syrah, all of which contribute to the wine's decidedly dark character. The 2013 has turned out beautifully following its very positive showing last year.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2013 Grenache Ballard Canyon is terrific and one of the better examples of the variety I was able to taste for this report. Giving up tons of black raspberry, black cherry, spring flowers, licorice and spice, it hits the palate with excellent concentration, tons of floral nuances, integrated acidity and a fair kick of tannin.
Rating: 92+
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.
Accounting for only ten percent of the greater Santa Ynez AVA, Ballard Canyon’s north-south orientation provides an ideal pattern of sunshine and martime fog for producing excellent Syrah. While Syrah is planted to half of the total AVA acreage, an additional third is dedicated to other Rhône varieties, red and white.