Our Wines
2020 Mélange Rouge
55% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 7.5% Graciano, 7.5% Mourvèdre
Raised 22 months on the lees in French oak barrels, 30% new oak. Unfined and Unfiltered. 385 cases produced.
The 2020 Mélange Rouge is a layered, focused wine with beautiful balance and bright freshness. Rich blackberry and blueberry intertwine with bright raspberry and cherry giving the wine energy with a refreshing core. The freshness on the nose is integrated seamlessly with hints of pepper, smoked meats, dried sage and mint. While the fruit takes center stage there is a savory component that weaves through the wine making it complex and intriguing. Soft tannins and mouthwatering acidity bring this wine into perfect balance.
Alcohol: 14.9%
pH: 3.85
Acid: 4.6 g/L
Bottled: August 29, 2022
Vineyards
Slide Hill Vineyard / Christy and Wise Vineyard / Rancho Boa Vista Vineyard / Martian Ranch Vineyard
Winemaker Notes
In 2020 I decided to increase my use of whole cluster fermentation with the components of the Mélange Rouge. The previous two vintages of this wine had plenty of rich, bright fruit components and I thought that using more whole cluster would give the wine more structure and highlight the spicy and herbaceous notes that make Rhone blends so attractive to me. This is our most structured and elegant vintage of this wine to date, dark and rich fruit up front with secondary notes of mint, sage, and smoked meats are giving the Mélange Rouge a depth of character that has taken it to the next level. It’s ready to drink now but if you can hang on for 5-10 years, I think this could be the stuff of legend.
Reviews
96 Points
Lastly, and a similar blend to the 2019, the 2020 Mélange Rouge checks in as 55% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and equal parts Graciano and Mourvèdre. It offers a slightly darker style in its blackberry and blueberry fruit as well as notes of ground pepper, smoked game, violets, and iron. Richly textured, full-bodied, concentrated, and beautifully balanced, it's another layered, complete, incredibly impressive wine from this estate that readers will love. It should easily evolve for 10-15 years.
95 Points
The 2020 Mélange Rouge is a blend of 55% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 7.5% Graciano, and 7.5% Mourvedre. Deep garnet-purple in color, it leaps with fragrant notes of rose oil, licorice, and juicy blueberries giving way to a core of black cherries and baked plums with touches of lavender and cardamom. The full-bodied palate is velvety, with a lively line and loads of spicy nuances, finishing long and peppery.