2018 Grenache

Wine Creek Ranch's terroir in the Dry Creek Valley shares many similarities with the Southern Rhône. For this reason, more than two decades ago we planted Grenache clones that trace their lineage to Château Beaucastel.

WINEMAKING NOTES
Achieving optimal ripeness at lower sugars allowed us to harvest earlier this year. We balance this varietys tendency towards firm tannins by following a Burgundian winemaking approach focused on extremely gentle handling and slow, controlled extraction. For example, partial whole-cluster fermentation (15%-20%) balances tannins and adds high-toned red fruit, while gentle basket-pressing further optimizes overall tannin quality. Mirroring Southern Rhône winemaking tradition, we use traditional French oak foudres to best capture and preserve Grenaches prized strawberry aromatics. Skin contact time varied depending on the lot with slightly cooler
fermentations this year.

THE WINE
Strawberry is the buzzword for varietally-true Grenache. Ours hits the spot! High-toned
aromatics of crushed candied violets and wild strawberry. As you sip, ripe coastal strawberry, pomegranate, rhubarb, blackberry, red licorice, cranberry tart, and subtle hints of black pepper all come to mind. Youthful, firm tannins flow into a long finish. A theoretical combination of the robust 2015 and elegant 2016 vintages, this wine will continue to evolve up through 2028-2030 with good storage. Family and friends who crave Pinot Noir will be pleasantly surprised by our Grenache. Food loves this wine. Try it with mac & cheese smothered in sharp cheddar (add bacon bits for an over-the-top experience), a terrine of foie gras, spicy lamb stew, tuna tartare, or any rich seafood.

377 cases

Made with Organically Grown Grapes

TECHNICAL NOTES
APPELLATION: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
VINEYARDS: 100% Wine Creek Ranch, Quivira's home vineyard, CCOF-certified organic
COMPOSITION: 82% Grenache 18% Mourvèdre
FERMENTATION: Predominantly open-top fermenters, with punching down by hand
BARREL AGING: 15 months total; first 8 months in French oak barrels (20% new), remaining months in 500L barrels and 600 and 900 gallon French oak foudres