***FUTURES OFFER SHIPPING EARLY FEBRUARY***
After our inaugural Grenache Blanc was so well received, we’ve been on the hunt to find you another one of these scarce offerings, and we’re very excited to announce that we’ve landed a tremendous find from historic Napa Valley!
An ancient Spanish varietal most famous for its Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Rhône Valley heritage (perhaps you’ve heard of iconic châteaus like Rayas and Beaucastel?), it enjoys widespread popularity in Europe but remains below the radar in the US, where it’s mostly just a favorite among the critics and sommeliers. One of the rarest grapes planted in California, Grenache Blanc accounts for barely one tenth of one percent of the total crop, championed by a handful of forward-thinking wineries that are willing to invest the time and effort to offer this sophisticated alternative to the more commonly planted whites. Given how little there is to go around, the task of landing one was quite challenging, but the 2023 harvest provided an opportunity and we pounced.
Lot 526 is a rich, immensely refreshing, 100% estate-grown stunner. Our source is a Napa winery that was one of the first to plant this varietal in the region, with winemaking efforts led by a gentleman with decades of experience at some of the most highly regarded estates in the valley. The vineyard’s cream of the crop fruit is reserved for this single varietal expression – a tasting room-only/club bottling that goes for $45/bottle, $540/case. As always, we’re here to get you access behind the velvet rope and have negotiated a fabulous deal to boot – this rare top-shelf white Rhône is yours for over 70% OFF!
Our price: $159/case DELIVERED, $13+/bottle to your door.
Our source’s hillside estate is perfect for Grenache Blanc – constant wind off San Pablo Bay (mirroring the notorious gusts of the southern Rhône) keeps canopies clean and thickens skins. Thin, rocky soils force roots deep, limiting yields on this notably vigorous vine. In 2023, the grapes locked in ample acidity across a cool summer and fall. A delayed harvest allowed this varietal to do what it does best, building layer upon layer of complex flavors. With a vintage of such epic quality, our source took a hands-off approach in the cellar; grapes were fermented in stainless steel to ensure the varietal character was preserved, and just a touch of skin contact was given to imbue the final product with a supple texture.
Radiating a lovely golden hue on the pour, the nose is filled with the varietal’s signature green apple skins and chalky minerals, with hints of sage and cream. The palate opens with impressive weight and oceanic minerality in the forefront, followed by baked apples, lemon oils, and a subtle grapefruit pith. Vibrant acidity and a soft tannic presentation carries the wine through to a beautifully lingering finish, revealing spice, saline, and apples.
