2018 2018 Grenache
GRENACHE is a delicate, playful, zesty red varietal, originating from Northern Spain. It has found fame in the Southern Rhone region of France, most notably as a dominant varietal in the famed blends of Chateauneuf du Pape.
This bottling is 100% Grenache, and is a bright, fresh version of California love. It is ready to drink now, and will age beautifully for years to come.
Technical
Tasting Notes
Throughout the fermentation of this wine, the best descriptors always circled back to the same three words - yum, yummy, and yes! We know they’re not formal, but they best describe this youthful Grenache. On first pour, the first striking thing is gorgeous vermilion color- the wine when pressed after fermentation had a stunning orange hue, and the color truly presents itself in the wine. On the nose, it is all red fruits of strawberry and raspberry with a hint of rose and on the palate it is full and rich with a lingering finish.
Details
This is a new addition to the Raft Wines lineup and we could not be more thrilled. Grenache is such a fun varietal grown in California, and it’s lovely how many interpretations it can take on. When presented with the opportunity to make wine from this vineyard presented itself, it was a very fast, yes!
The Narrow Gate Vineyard is located at 2500 feet in Pleasant Valley in the El Dorado AVA. Perhaps the most special thing about this vineyard is the people who farm it and they way that they farm. Frank and Teena Hildebrand planted the property in 2001, converted to organic in 2007, and most importantly, got a Demeter Biodynamic Certification in 2010. They are involved in every aspect of the farming, from creating their own fertilizers and biodynamic preparations, to creating a diverse land with cover crop and animal husbandry.
Grenache is such a special grape, that can be so delicate and refined. We picked the grapes on September 12, 2018 when the acids and sugars were just right. At the winery, the fermentation was slow and steady, and it spent a lovely 26 days on the skins. After being gently pressed, the wine underwent secondary fermentation in neutral oak barrels. It was sulfured only once, right before bottling on August 14, 2019. Per all Raft Wines, it was bottled unfined and unfiltered.