Winemaker Notes
Blend: 96% Grenache, 4% Syrah
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
Just as it was from barrel, the 2016 Grenache is dark, sensual and inviting, with striking inner perfume and tons of class. The 2016 remains light on its feet for such a big wine, while also preserving quite a bit of aromatic intensity. All that said, it is the wine's total sense of balance that makes it compelling.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Grenache (there's a splash of Syrah) offers a deep purple color to go with an exotic, perfumed bouquet of plums, black raspberries, cracked pepper, incense, and spring flowers. This classic, gamey, exotic Grenache has terrific purity, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish, all making for a terrific expression of this variety.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Made using 20% whole cluster and with 4% Syrah, the 2016 Grenache Ballard Canyon has a pale to medium ruby-purple color and a very savory nose of blueberry coulis, black cherry jam and red berry preserves with smoke, loamy soil, peppered meats and garrigue. The medium to full-bodied palate gives spicy fruits, firm, finely grained tannins and great freshness, finishing long.
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.