2022 SALENGO GRENACHE
TASTING NOTES
Abundant aromas of heirloom roses, strawberries and rich cranberry with nuances of perfume and light spice. Elegant entry with silky texture. Medium bodied with plenty of fresh flavors and bright acidity that support all of the punchy red fruit flavors you find in this wine.
Savory on the palate plus some white pepper notes which adds to the complexity of this wine. Healthy fine-grained tannins in the finish that will allow this wine to age nicely and stand up to many different foods. Great by itself but I like it best with food. There are so many perfect pairing possibilities!
PRODUCTION NOTES
The Grenache comes in from the highest elevation in the Coble Ranch Vineyard. It is harvested from a very special four rows that have a soil transition gravelly loam and rich clay soil, which contributes to this wine’s complexity. These soils help produce a complimentary balance of minerality and red fruit characteristics with a touch of earthiness. The grapes were harvested in the early morning to maintain cool temperatures to preserve the integrity of the fruit and aromas found in this delicate wine.
Once received at the winery, the Grenache is optically sorted and fermented in a small lot. Optimizing the time on the skins for a concentrated fruit and tannin profile, the Grenache has an extended cold soak before fermentation to extract more flavor, then was punched down by hand 2-3 times a day to control fermentation temperature with the goal of preserving delicate aromatics in this wine that present as red fruits like strawberry, cranberry, pomegranate and wild strawberry. After the wine was fermented to dryness, it was then pressed in a traditional basket press and aged in neutral French oak barrels before bottling. This wine was aged one year in bottle before release.
2022 was a very warm vintage which is exactly what this variety loves and the wine shows that. It turned out balanced and ready to drink earlier than usual, which gives this wine an element of freshness the previous vintages didn't have. Basically, this wine has lots of fresh fruit and vibrancy along with the normal components of minerality, which gives this wine a savoriness and silky texture, and juicy red fruits. Think freshly picked strawberries, sweet cranberries, ripe cherries and candied oranges. The young tannins in this wine are slightly grippy, which will stand up to a large variety of delicious dishes, particularly rich foods. The tannin profile will give way to a luscious mid palate and finish as this wine ages.