2011 GRENACHE BLANC - SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Grenache Blanc has become one of our favorite whites over the past 8 years due to its versatility and uniqueness in flavor. Its balance between richness, minerality, crispness and fruit sets this wine apart from other whites by providing a variety of elements for everyone to enjoy.
Wine Specs
VINTAGE 2011
- VARIETAL
- 100% Grenache Blanc
- APPELLATION
- Santa Barbara County
- VINEYARD DESIGNATION
- 100% Camp 4 Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley
- HARVEST DATE
- October 3, 2011
- SUGAR
- 23 Brix
- PH
- 3.1
- AGING
- 80% Stainless Steel fermented and aged, 20% Barrel fermented and aged in neutral French oak barrels for 6 months
- BOTTLING DATE
- March 19, 2012
- RESIDUAL SUGAR
- 0%
- ALCOHOL %
- 13.5
- TASTING NOTES
- Light straw in color. Grenache Blanc has become one of our favorite whites over the past 8 years due to its versatility and uniqueness in flavor. Its balance between richness, minerality, crispness and fruit sets this wine apart from other whites by providing a variety of elements for everyone to enjoy. Our 2011 vintage finds aromas of white nectarine, lychee nut, ginger, apricot and white flower on the nose. The low pH and bright natural acidity makes for a refreshing palate of nectarine, white peach, citrus, apricot and Asian pear.
- VINEYARD NOTES
- From year to year, we spend a good amount of time in the vineyard trying to prepare the Grenache Blanc fruit for each upcoming harvest. The Grenache varietals in general tend to produce a pretty high yield and the Grenache Blanc follows suit. So,prior to harvest, we drop the chutes down to one or two clusters per chute. We thin out the shoulders on each of the clusters developing only the inside, thinner part, which tends to be the ripe portion of each cluster. Even with pruning the clusters, the fruit is still pretty heavy. So, we have found that thinning out the vines helps the fruit ripen more evenly and develop a more concentrated grape.
- PRODUCTION NOTES
- We pick the grapes at about 23 brix and then whole cluster press to minimize phenolic extraction and oxidation of the juice. We then ferment the free run juice in mostly stainless steel for over a month with RHST yeast. The remainder of the 5 months, we aged the juice in 80% stainless steel and the remainder 20% in French oak barrels which helps add to the mouth feel and weight.
- WINEMAKER NOTES
- One fact that we love about Grenache Blanc is that almost everyone appreciates the fresh, balanced qualities that this wine has to offer. In fact, we find that as many red wine drinkers enjoy the Grenache Blanc as white wine drinkers! When it comes to food, there is no end to the possibilities. The fresh flavors of this wine are wonderful upon release and can be enjoyed over the next 3 years.
- FOOD PAIRING NOTES
- A fresh lively wine that is a little bit drier than our past few vintages, our 2011 Grenache Blanc is wonderful as an apertif, excellent with spicy Asian food and ready to be sipped on a nice warm day.
- PRODUCTION
- 1000 cases made