2023 Grenache

This is the much-anticipated 2nd release of the Kick Ranch Grenache by Bricoleur Vineyards. The wine pops in the glass with a striking ruby red that tells of this energetic wine. There is a synergy on the nose of wild strawberries, raspberries, and black pepper. The palate offers a juicy and mouth-watering rush of pomegranate and gingerbread spice with supple tannins rounding off a lasting finish.

The 2023 growing season was a much-welcomed change of pace as above average winter rainfall replenished aquifers and left soil profiles fully saturated to start the growing season. A cool slow progression into spring delayed bud break and prolonged flowering, generally slowing the start to the season and the timeline of grape development. Veraison was two to three weeks behind compared to the last few years. The Kick Ranch Grenache comes from a planting of the Tablas clone in 2008. Kick Ranch is on the cooler side for growing Grenache and results in wonderfully floral and fresh expressions of the variety. Diligent canopy and crop load management is required to achieve balance and phenolic development. Often just one cluster per shoot is required for full development of flavors. After a great flower set in 2023, the Kick Ranch Grenache benefited from a mild growing season and long hang times.

Bricoleur Vineyard’s 2023 Kick Ranch Grenache was carefully handpicked and arrived at Punchdown Cellars the morning of October 18th. 10% of the fruit was added whole cluster and the rest fully de-stemmed and loaded into an open-top fermenting tank where it cold soaked for three days before being brought up to temperature for fermentation. Pumpovers were performed twice daily during fermentation to help with color, flavor, and gentle phenolic extraction. Many of the Grenache berries remained whole during fermentation, resulting in carbonic maceration characteristics that were released when the berries went to the press. The wine aged sur lie for 9 months in 15% new French oak barrels and 85% neutral French oak barrels.

Pizza, paella, barbecued meats