A Tribute to Grace Vie Caprice 2015

Vineyard: Vie Caprice Vineyard

AVA: Santa Ynez Valley

Varietal: 100% Grenache Harvest: September, 2015 (moon in Aries)

Alcohol: 14.3% abv

Élevage: 17 months in French 220l & 500l barrique (15% new)

Finishing pH: 3.75

Bottling date: February 9, 2016 (moon in Aquarius)

Release date: September 1st, 2016

Total Production: 179 cases

Another new addition to the grace canon, this teensy 1.94 acre vineyard is situated just off Refugio Road, in Santa Ynez. Planted in 2007 entirely to Alban clone Grenache, the property serves as a magical haven to friends Leif & Kimmy Hertzog, and Whit Latimer. 87 gently sloping rows canvas the classic Santa Ynez fine sandy loam, and encourage many layers of expression to shine. We started working with this fruit in 2014 when our friend Erik Mallea took over the farming (his day-job is vineyard manager at Sanford). Our block is now organically farmed, and we produce this single vineyard bottling as well as the Santa Barbara County blend (from the southern block of the vineyard, farmed to a slightly higher yield). Harvested in September, we received 3.8 tons. I foot tread twice a day throughout the 15 day fermentation, and whole cluster inclusion was 50%.

Pressed to barrel, MLF occurred spontaneously over the winter of 2014. The wine was racked once under the first new moon of 2016.

Tasting notes: lingonberries, pink peppercorns and clove