Grenache
Blend: 100% Grenache
Vineyard & AVA: Paper Street Vineyard, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles CA
Alcohol: 15.7%
Aging: Enjoy now, or lay down for 10-15 years.
THE SONG
Ziggy Marley's hit song is a thought-provoking reminder to stay true to oneself and embrace one's uniqueness. The song encourages listeners to live life on their own terms, despite societal pressures and expectations.
Ziggy Marley sets the tone with his opening lines, emphasizing that it is crucial to break free from the monotony of life and trust one's instincts. He stresses that pretending to be someone else is not the way to achieve true happiness. Similarly, as a winemaker, it's essential to stay true to oneself and not be boxed into labels. By being authentic, one can overcome any obstacle and rise above all odds.
Vintage Notes
Overall, thanks to a relatively temperate growing season, the timing of the 2021 harvest is about a week or two later than in recent years, with most growers pulling the first of the core white wine grapes in late August. While the region has seen smoke from wildfires up north, it didn't affect the vineyards in Paso Robles.
The ongoing drought conditions are presenting growers with a double- edged sword of sorts. The good news is the dry conditions this vintage created smaller, more concentrated grapes, which is ideal for winemaking. While yields are lower, it produces more flavors, bolder colors, strong acidity, and manageable tannins. These conditions have winemakers feeling it's an epic vintage for quality.
Vinification
Fermented on native yeast, 33% whole cluster, on skin for 14-18 days. Aged for 22 months in 228L French oak barriques, 100% new.
Tasting Notes
This Grenache wine has a rich aroma of bright cherries, orange rind, cedar, and toasty oak, evocative of a classic Old Fashioned cocktail. On the palate, the cherry and orange notes are further accentuated, with the introduction of cranberry, warm rhubarb pie, and Christmas spices.
The wine finishes long, with a refreshing mix of mint, warm spices, and fresh herbs. The complexity and lush richness of this wine, reminiscent of a fine Chateauneuf-du-Pape, are remarkable, even without the use of syrah or mourvedre.
$85