Grenache has long captivated wine lovers with its perfume, lift, and textural allure. Rooted in the south of France in places like the Southern Rhône and Provence, it anchors classics such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, and Vacqueyras. In the United States, plantings were sparse for decades, appearing in select pockets of California where a few pioneers revealed its red-fruited elegance, spice, and graceful texture. In the right hands, Grenache brings silk, brightness, and savory detail that feels timeless.

Now along the Royal Slope, a high-elevation bench along the Frenchman Hills, plantings of Grenache remain limited yet increasingly focused. South and southwest exposures, steady winds, and well-drained loess over basalt encourage even ripening, while dramatic day-to-night temperature swings preserve lift and fine tannin. These ideal conditions reward careful farming and gentle extraction, yielding wines with red fruit purity, white-pepper spice, and a chalk-tinged finish. We are fortunate to work alongside a handful of thoughtfully chosen parcels on the Royal Slope to let this place speak clearly in the glass.

The 2022 Single Barrel Royal Slope Grenache was crafted from the Thunderstone and Corfu Crossing vineyards within this dynamic 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 100% French oak (20% new). The wine was cellared for 20 months, with 5 barrels selected and carefully blended. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered to ensure purity and vibrancy. 113 cases produced.

For purity, a singular clone was used in the final blend of this 100% Grenache, clone 3.