2020 2020 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
Red raspberry explosion! This wine is dominated by beautiful red fruits, followed by rose petal and thyme. It is light and delicate, with great acid and a lovely structure. I found myself going back for more and more.
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 4, 2020 when the acids and sugars were just right. This was by far the earliest we have picked!
Once 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 July, 2021