Winemaker Notes
Blend: 98% Grenache, 2% Syrah
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2019 Grenache is bright, floral and wonderfully effusive. The purity of the flavors is just remarkable. Rose petal, lavender, mint and spice are laced into a core of red/purplish berry fruit. The 2019 conveys depth of flavor without excess weight. Its a gorgeous wine in every way. There is nerviness in the 2019 that is appealing.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Grenache comes all from the estate vineyard in Ballard Canyon and sports a translucent ruby hue to go with lots of attractive bright cherry and framboise fruits as well as peppery herbs, violets, and orange blossom aromas and flavors.
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.