95 Points - Christopher Sawyer, "Sommelier to the Stars"
A masterful, bold, swaggering blend of Grenache, Syrah & Mourvèdre (GSM) that's smoother than a Marvin Gaye chorus and sexier than a fine leather jacket at a dive bar. Their 2018 and 2019 vintages scored a whopping 95 POINTS from Bonfort’s Wine & Spirits Journal, DrinkMe Magazine, and the well respected, Christopher Sawyer because apparently critics enjoy drinking dangerously, too.
Aged 37 months in French oak barrels. Bottled unfiltered, preserving its purity and character. Approachable now, and has plenty of depth, structure, and complexity to lay down for another 3-5 years.
It's bold fruit flavors and spice notes complement smoky, savory flavors of grilled or barbecued meats like beef, lamb, pork, and sausage.
Winemaking
Crafted with care and commitment to sustainability, each grape is meticulously selected by hand, ensuring only the finest fruit makes its way into the bottle. 28% Grenache brings fruit and acidity to the table with flavors of raspberry, strawberry, licorice and spice. 44% Syrah adds color, spice, blueberry, blackberry, plum, black olive, mineral, and tannin to the party. 28% Mouvedre rounds it all out with blackberry, pomegranate, pepper, violets, clove, smoke with tannin and structure.
Vineyard
Grown in the rolling, oak studded hills of Placer County and El Dorado Hills, the vineyards are located 600 to 1,000 feet above sea-level, 100 miles east of San Francisco. The soils consist of crushed granite, volcanic rock and sandy loam, making them well-drained and ideal for growing grapes. The vineyards receive very little artificial irrigation to help stress the vines, resulting in the wines having more complex and intense flavors.
Vintage
The 2019 Vintage saw ideal conditions in the Sierra Foothills AVA, resulting in grapes of exceptional quality. Harvested at an average Brix of 24 to 25, with a pH of 3.6 and total acidity of 6.5 g/L, these grapes reached optimal ripeness.
VINTAGE: 2019
VARIETAL: 28% Grenache, 44% Syrah, 28% Mourvèdre
APPELLATION: Sierra Foothills
AGING: 37 months in French Oak barrels
pH: 3.6
TA: 6.5 g/L
FILTRATION: Unfiltered
ALCOHOL: 14.1%
Dark ruby red in the glass, and good swirl on the nose offers generous aromatics of cassis, black cherry and spice. Generously oaked, with crushed blackberry, baked plums, baking spices, and Turkish fig. A supple body, gives way to red and dark fruit like plum, blueberry compote, prune, with anise and light spice on the finish.
92 Points
Lofty aromas of ripe red fruits layered with notes of crushed violets, berry cobbler, cherry and creme brulee leading into crushed blackberry with cassis, mocha, leather, mineral, and baking spice. Its all encompassing and bold mouthfeel are outstanding, as deep tannins dance around the palate, finishing with flavors of blackberry, fig, and pipe tobacco.
Exceptional
Aromas of bright oak, essence of lilac, toasted brioche and sage delight your senses. Flavors are just as complex with hints of soft melted butter, quince, fig, and a touch of lavender that titillate your taste buds. Its delightful texture is balanced by great acidity, leading to a long satisfying finish. Truly a chardonnay lovers Chardonnay.
