Winemaker Notes
Vibrant garnet red. Intoxicating notes of wild red brambleberry, watermelon, dried herbs and hints of cured meat and baking spices. Fresh, vibrant and delicious with red tropical fruits and concentrated on the palate. Smooth and sublime. Luscious
mouthfeel with good grip and savory meat notes, dried flowers and herbs, spice, and long, robust mouthfeel.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Sleek and dynamic, with refined raspberry, spiced cinnamon and cured meat accents that sprint toward the long, polished finish.
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Vinous
The 2021 Grenache (Santa Barbara County) is classy, elegant and polished. Effusive aromatics and bright red-toned fruit all grace this silky, mid-weight Grenache. This blend from a number of top site works so well. There's terrific weight, depth and substance here.
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Wine Enthusiast
Lovely layers of rose petal, hibiscus, sumac, strawberry and lavender make for an impressively floral nose on this bottling. There's a zip reminiscent of carbonic wines on the palate, where white pepper, ash and strawberry juice flavors carry the attention.
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.
With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate Central Coast wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.