2019 2019 Grenache
GRENACHE is a delicate, playful, zesty red varietal, originating from Northern Spain. It has also 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
On first pour, the first striking thing is gorgeous vermilion color- the wine when pressed after fermentation has a stunning orange hue, and the color truly presents itself in the wine. On the nose, it is all red fruits exploding with raspberry with a hint of rose petal. There is about 25% whole cluster in this wine and those structural notes show up in the palette with great structure in its relatively light body. As we don’t make a Pinot Noir, this would be a great alternative.
Details
Grenache is such a fun varietal grown in California, and it’s lovely how many interpretations it can take on. 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 the 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. Fun fact – the grapes had to wait an extra day to get processed because Jen filmed a TV Show with Curtis Stone later that afternoon! Be sure to check that out on PBS…
Once finally at the winery, the fermentation was slow and steady, and it spent a lovely 20 days on the skins. After being gently pressed, the wine underwent secondary fermentation in neutral oak barrels. Per all Raft Wines, it was bottled unfined and unfiltered on August 13, 2020