Winemaker Notes
Rossi Ranch, established in 1910 by the Rossi Family, is among the most picturesque vineyards in Sonoma Valley. Organically farmed, the site features a diverse landscape of hills, undulations, and exposures, framed by a mix of oak and pine forest. Known for its warm summers and falls, the vineyard is pruned late to avoid early spring frost. As a result, Grenache from this site is often one of the last varietals harvested. The fruit expresses the essence of its environment—briary, peppery, and spicy, with aromatic hints of the native plants that surround the vineyard.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
California Grenache is often simple in its overt fruitiness, but this exemplary rendition. shows remarkable complexity even in its first year. Red and black fruit tones are joined by savory and briary notes, and the texture is layered, providing a sense. of inviting softness before firming up with well-measured grip from ripe tannins and a touch of oak on the finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
This savory Rhône blend brings aromas of spicy plum and olive on the nose, with flavors of raspberry, sage and barrel spice on the palate framed by grippy tannin that will need some time in the cellar to soften.
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.
Perhaps the most historically significant appellation in Sonoma County, the Sonoma Valley is home to both Buena Vista winery, California's oldest commercial winery, and Gundlach Bundschu winery, California's oldest family-run winery.
It is also one of the more geologically and climactically diverse districts. The valley includes and overlaps four distinct Sonoma County sub-appellations, including Carneros, Moon Mountain District, Sonoma Mountain and Bennett Valley. With mountains, benchlands, plains, abundant sunshine and the cooling effects of the nearby Pacific, this appellation can successfully produce a wide range of grape varieties. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer, and most notably, Zinfandel all thrive here. Ancient Zinfandel vines over 100 years old produce small crops of concentrated, spicy fruit, which in turn make some of the Valley's most unique wines. These can also be made as “field blends” (wines made from a mix of grape varieties grown in the same vineyard) along with Petite Sirah, Carignan and Alicante Bouschet.