Ignorance is not always bliss. When I was in college, a good friend of mine was enthralled with this new band from England called Dire Straits. He was particularly impressed with guitarist and band leader, Mark Knopfler. Dire Straits’ first record was a huge hit, but I thought the songs were a little too curated, especially Sultans of Swing. I was clearly an idiot.
Today, I am a HUGE fan of Mark Knopfler. His solo career over the past three decades has been nothing short of amazing. Knopfler is not just a supremely talented guitarist and singer/songwriter. He loves music, which is obvious by the range and depth of styles in his songs. Kind of like how we feel about the world of wine.
Knopfler once said when asked about a recent album, “you write a song, you record a song, and then you go and play it to people. If you enjoy that whole cycle, then it makes you a pretty lucky guy.”
When I am asked about what it’s like to operate a small winery for 25 years, I pretty much say the same thing.
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(MAKE YOUR LUCK)
2022 was a winemaker’s vintage. It tested our knowledge, experience, and verve for the varieties we grow and produce. The growing season, particularly in September was not how we would draw it up in the playbook. An early and extreme heat spell was followed by a bit of rain 8 days later. Both events would have lesser-experienced winemakers rushing to make hasty decisions about harvesting grapes which would limit the finished wine's potential. We did not panic, and our wines show it. While we seldom water our vines during the year, the ability to irrigate really comes in handy when you are facing extreme heat prior to harvest. We now water our vines prior to a forecasted heat wave, which allows them to withstand higher temperatures. When the weather improves the fruit resumes ripening as nature intended. This is precisely how we managed to make fully ripe wines in 2022.
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2022
SEGROMIGNO
Segromigno, our Central Italian blend of Sangiovese and Montepulciano, has become our most popular red wine—so much so that most of you even pronounce it correctly! Sangiovese and Montepulciano are blended to make Rosso Piceno in Italy’s Le Marche region. But Segromigno is a more structured, robust wine than Rosso Piceno. It is really more comparable to a Super Tuscan, only instead of using Cabernet, we opt for Montepulciano to give more depth and tannin to the Sangiovese blend. This is especially evident in our 2022 Segromigno, which has a bit more Montepulciano (34%) than previous vintages.
The Sangiovese we used for Segromigno is from a section of our original block planted in 1992, and from the block we planted in 2007 to low-vigor rootstock. Both are Sangiovese Grosso-clones that show classic dried cherry aromas and flavors. The Montepulciano comes primarily from vines we planted in 2007. Whether you liken this wine to Chianti Classico or Super Tuscan, the ’22 Segromigno is one of, if not the most Italian-like Sangiovese blends not from Italy. It will particularly appeal to fans of our Montepulciano. I would enjoy this ’22 Segromigno over the next 3 to 5 years.
66% Sangiovese
34% Montepulciano
825 cases produced
$38 / btl
$35 / summer release pricing
20% off any assorted case
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2022
GRENACHE
September weather tested our experience and patience. Yet, in the end we made a 2022 Grenache that shows the intense fruit and balance we love about Southern Rhône wines. A heat wave in early September, featuring several days of over 110 degrees, was followed by a bit of rain eight days later. Grenache is one of our heartiest grape varieties—it can withstand extremely hot weather. Our vertical trellis vines, combined with low yields allowed us to let the fruit hang without incurring bunch rot. In other words, our experience kept us from panicking, and we were able to harvest fully ripe Grenache in early October. Sort of like how future Hall of Fame manager Bruce Bochy trusts his players.
The 2022 Grenache comes from our Alban clone blocks planted in 1998. This clone has always produced very expressive aromas and solid structure, which is especially evident in 2022. We blended this intensely fruity Grenache with Syrah from our Benchland vineyard, planted in 1991. The wine shows that classic tension between being fruit forward and firm tannins, like the better wine Rhône wines from Rasteau and Vacqueyras. It is showing very well now and will only improve over the next 2 to 4 years.
75% GRENACHE
25% SYRAH
275 cases
$38 / btl
20% off any assorted case
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2022
BARBERA
Both Jason and I describe Barbera like a supremely talented artist or teammate. It is not always easy to work with, but when it is on, Barbera can be one of our most compelling and well received wines. The 2022 vintage is one that makes it worth the trouble.
Barbera can be a challenging wine to make because of its inconsistent leaf canopy. It also seems to be more sensitive to virus. The grapes are thin-skinned grapes with extremely high acidity. If you don’t get Barbera fully ripe it can have some vegetal flavors and combined with acidity, can take away from its enticing exotic fruit. Not Jason's favorite variety.
We have had to replant most of our Barbera due to its susceptibility to Red Blotch, a virus that impedes ripening. In 2022 more of our re-planted vines are in production, and they already performing well. That combined with the physiological ripeness from the ’22 growing season rendered our most successful Barbera since 2015. Considering Jason’s frosty relationship with Barbera, he has really dialed in his winemaking approach. The ’22 is dark, fruity, complex, and has great structure, considering Barbera inately has very low tannins. Jason aged our Barbera in 30% new French Oak, but you would never know it. The oak is well integrated while providing some tannin structure. So, I guess we won’t kick Barbera out of the band just yet.
800 cases
$35 / btl
20% off any assorted case
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