2023 WINEMAKER SERIES GRENACHE NAPA VALLEY

Composed primarily of Grenache with 3% Syrah, the 2023 Grenache from Gordon Valley in Napa offers a classic expression of the variety. The nose opens with vibrant red and blue fruit aromas, supported by subtle layers of dried flowers, sandalwood, and dried herbs. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, with a beautifully textured mouthfeel. Silky yet present tannins provide structure, while bright acidity lifts the ripe fruit flavors

Ripe Black Rasberry and Strawberry, hints of dried flowers, sandalwood and cedarwood. Some dried herbal notes also add a touch of complexity to the nose.

We source Grenache from Gordon Valley, a warmer section of Napa Valley where the landscape is very reminiscent of Paso Robles, with rolling hills dotted with oak trees. The long vintage allowed for us to get a little more hang time in a block that tends to ripen on the early side. Phenolics matured beautifully on the vine along with classic red fruit flavors.  Tannins were a bit big in 2023, which lead to adjustments in cap management to include more integration of air during pumpovers, and more frequent, but short pumpovers, to ensure we achieve perfect balance of texture and flavor. After pressing, we filled a mix of large format and standard barrique barrels. In May, when selecting the Grenache barrels for Solder, as we tasted the larger format barrels, we were STOKED. We set aside 2 Ermitage cigare barrels, 3 brand new puncheons (500L) and a few neutral barriques that we felt deserved a home of their own, and created this limited offering. The wine aged in these vessels for 15 months to ensure tannins were resolved, but still structured, and bottled in March of 2025. Only 300 cases produced.