Big Basin Gabilan Mountains

WINEMAKER NOTES: The 2019 growing season was preceded by a wet winter with several rainstorms totaling around 70 inches in rain. Bud break was late due to the cold, wet soils, but an early June heat wave caused the vines and cover crops to take off. July and August were relatively cool, slowing veraison, then warming into September for nearly ideal weather for final ripening.

VINEYARDS: The Gabilan Mountains are a sizable range of rugged granitic and calcareous limestone rich mountains that run down the East side of the Salinas Valley, in Monterey County. The Rhone varietals tend to be their most complex, interesting and revealing their true character potential and vineyard terrior when planted on steep, rocky hillsides. The region is hardly hospitable to any crop other than low yielding, character rich wine grapes. We believe this among the greatest places to grow Rhone varietals in California.

Aromatics are jumping out of the glass: raspberry, strawberry, rhubarb, berry pie, crushed rocks on nose. Intense, velvety and with powerful mid palate and abundant extract of tongue smacking berry fruit. This is no doubt a full throttle rendition of these varietals in this terroir - the high elevation, yet powerful maritime influence from Monterey Bay, granitic and limestone vineyards.

39% MOURVEDRE, 33% GRENACHE, 28% SYRAH