2022 / Willow Creek District Grenache

Aromas of strawberry cream reveal hints of Provençale herbs, toasted oak, white pepper and loam. The palate is flush with flavors of ripe plum, cherry, dried flower, coffee and vanilla spices while a grainy, meaty texture affirms that this is no ordinary Grenache. Fresh acidity brings a crowning lift to the finish.

The 2022 Grenache was painstakingly curated with organic farming practices, small-batch winemaking and a reverence for site expression

From our two most aggressively sloped blocks
A blend of Alban Clone (Block 3) and Clone 362 (Block 2)
Calcareous limestone and clay loam
Elevation range of 1,015 to 1,300 feet
12 miles from the Pacific Ocean
Organically farmed vines

Vinification

A special selection from three 228-liter French oak barrels
10-day cold soak followed by tank fermentation with pumpovers and délestage
Aged for 16 months in an average of 27% new oak
Selected and blended at the 6-month mark of aging
Returned to barrels for 10 additional months of maturation

Analysis

Alc. 15.9%
TA .61
PH 3.34
Cases 75

2022 Willow Creek district Grenache

Tasting
Notes

The 2022 Grenache combines vivid varietal character with a striking structural heft that is rooted in our estate terroir. Aromas of strawberry cream reveal hints of Provençale herbs, toasted oak, white pepper and loam. The palate is flush with flavors of ripe plum, cherry, dried flower, coffee and vanilla spices while a grainy, meaty texture affirms that this is no ordinary Grenache. Fresh acidity brings a crowning lift to the finish.

Reviews, Kind Words &

Accolades

Bold and ripe aromas of strawberry, baked plum, rosewater and lilac draw the nose into this bottling. The palate is quite fresh with raspberry and cherry flavors that are balanced by tarragon and pepper, making for an elegant and delicious expression.

—92 points, Matt Kettmann, Wine Enthusiast / April 2025

The 2022 Grenache lifts from the glass with an opulent yet still refined blend of crushed blackberries and cherries offset by nuances of mint and sweet smoke. Juicy and pure, it sweeps across the palate with silken textures and ripe wildberry fruits as hints of sour citrus meet an enriching note of brown spice toward the close. Grippy tannins resonate, brightened by a spike of zesty acidity. The 2022 finishes staining and long.

—90 points, Eric Guido, Vinous / December 2024