2022Grenache
2022Grenache
The 2021 Tenor Grenache was crafted from the Thunderstone and Corfu Crossing vineyards within the Royal Slope AVA.
The winemaking team worked with our vineyard manager to restrict yields, creating small, concentrated berries. Thoughtful canopy management and intensive irrigation strategies were implemented. Cool fall nights preserved freshness in the wine while continuing to develop flavor. The fruit was hand-harvested early in the mornings throughout October.
Upon arriving at the winery, the fruit was hand sorted with 80% destemmed and berry sorted before it was added on top of 20% whole cluster fruit. The wine spent 30+ days on skins for extended maceration before being barreled down into 75% new French oak. The wine was cellared for 20 months, with 8 barrels selected and carefully blended. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered to ensure purity and vibrancy. 194 cases produced.
A singular clone was used in the final blend of this 100% Grenache, clone 3.
Tasting Notes
The deep, glimmering ruby and magenta color creates a stunning 2022 Tenor Grenache. Effusive aromatics of crushed blueberry, lavender, and creme de cassis are contrasted with a savory sage note. On the palate it is pure and fresh yet incredibly concentrated. Flavors of black raspberry, ground pepper, roasted herbs, chocolate cherries, and licorice excite. This full-bodied wine is seductive with ripe, decadent tannins and a long, layered finish of fruit cake, incense, and blueberry liqueur.
Varietal Composition
100% Grenache
Awards & Accolades
"The 2022 Tenor Grenache was mostly sourced from the Corfu Crossing Vineyard as well as the Thunderstone Vineyard in the Royal Slope AVA. Stored in nearly all new French oak, this delivers alluring red rose petals and potpourri notes on the nose alongside blood orange zest and fresh sage tones. The palate is plush and seamless, displaying great flavor range with concentrated pomegranate seed, strawberry and red cherry flavors alongside suggestions of Satsuma orange zest and menthol accents. Showing beautiful salinity, this comes off very heady and intense. Enjoy this gorgeous wine now and over the next ten years."
96 points, Owen Bargreen, Owenbargreen.com
"Flavors of fig compote, grilled black cherry, and licorice root unfold over a textured frame, with accents of dried herbs and smoky mineral keeping the richness in check. The wine's structure is both bold and polished, carrying into a lengthy finish that lingers with notes of spice-dusted fruit and warm earth."
95 points, Jeremy Young, International Wine Report
"This full-bodied, open red has aromas of baked plums, strawberries, thyme and a hint of orange liqueur. Deliciously ripe, plummy and fruit-forward, with very soft tannins. Warms you up. From Royal Slopes AVA. Why wait? Drink now."
93 points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
"A ripe marionberry aroma is usually enough to make me very happy. But when you add soy sauce, lavender, rosemary and wet stones to the mix, I'm very happy. Dark raspberry and strawberry flavors rule the palate, accompanied by bursts of ginger, espresso and pipe tobacco."
93 points, Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast
"Coming mostly from Royal Slope sites, the 100% varietal 2022 Grenache shows a density of earth, garrigue, soy, and wild strawberry. Velvety texture accompanies mineral underpinnings and a bold, full-bodied midpalate of deeply brooding blue fruit and licorice. Pleasurable to drink now, it should go another 10-12 years in bottle with ease."
92 points, Virginie Boone, jebdunnuck.com
"Matured for 20 months in 75% new French oak, the 2022 Grenache has kaleidoscopic aromas of raspberry, pomegranate, licorice, powdered sugar and amaro. The medium-bodied palate is layered and expressive with barely-there chalky tannins, fireworks of fresh acidity and a long, nuanced finish. 194 cases were made."
92 points, Erin Brooks, The Wine Advocate