2003 Stolpman Vineyard Grenache
The 2003 Grenache, Stolpman Vineyard. A big, gripping medium-dark wine, it has a plum -cola-strawberry nose, flavors of spice, a complex, high-tannin mouth feel, and a lingering finish. It is full yet supple in the mouth. An extremely low yield in 2003 gives the wine power. New Tablas Creek and Albin grape clones make the wine deeper than in the past. No new oak was used letting the native grape tannins show through to fill your palate. (117 cases produced – very limited)
• The wine is a blend of two Grenache clones: Tablas Creek Clone (67%) and Albin Clone (33%).
• The Tablas Creek Clone Grenache was harvested October 15 at 24.4 brix, 3.4 pH.
• The Albin Clone Grenache was harvested October 15 at 25.6 brix and 3.5 pH.
• The fruit was stemmed but not crushed. Intact, whole berries were placed in small bin boxes for 7 days of fermentation.
• The must was inoculated with RC 212 yeast.
• Went through ML fermentation completing in April.
• No new oak was used in the making of this wine. Rather, older cooperage, mostly French, was used to preserve the delicate aromatics of the wine and expose the native grape tannins.
• This wine really fills the mouth with tannins felt high in your cheeks (that’s good). When young, it is fruit driven (plums, rhubarb, strawberries, pomegranate). With age, the cola and spice aromas come out. Thanks to the new clones of Grenache we are using, the wine is darker and more supple.
• Racked in mid April and again before bottling.
• Unfined and filtered.
• Bottled in August 2004.
Food Pairing: This wine is slightly lighter than our other reds wines and pairs with a wide variety of foods. It is a superb Thanksgiving or Easter feast wine. Its fine tannin structure and grapey-pomegranate-spice aroma goes well with foods you might pair with a good Pinot Noir. Try it with braised or roasted beef, game hens, roast pork with baked apples. Less sweet, fruit sauces work well - try cherries, raspberries, or even black figs.
Wine Advocate - June 2005
“The medium-bodied, medium ruby-colored 2003 Grenache Stolpman Vineyard offers classic Grenache aromas of kirsch liqueur, licorice, spice box, and earth followed by rugged tannin in the finish. It should be consumed over the next 1-3 years.” 86 points - Robert Parker