2023 Russian River Valley "Two Acres" Red Wine
100% Field blend of Mourvèdre, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Carignan, Peloursin, Alicante Bouschet, and Zinfandel
Our last Two Acres, this is the vineyard where I learned how to care for old vines and farm grapes nearly 30 years ago. My hands-on classroom! It’s also the vineyard that got me interested in ampelography, the science of vine identification through morphological characteristics. I have spent literally thousands of hours renovating this vineyard, at times working myself to exhaustion. Farewell old friend! Picked on October 20th at a perfect 24.3 Brix, 23% of the fruit was put to tank as whole cluster to add aromatic interest and structure. Five-day cold soak. Twenty-two days on the skins. Aged 15 months in French oak, 20% new. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note:
Medium-dark garnet-ruby. A truly symphonic nose of Morello cherry, Indian spices, and fresh mulch. Complex and mesmerizing. As usual, an incredibly creamy texture with flavors of cherry and spice unfolding in the mouth like a peacock’s tail. There’s plenty of verve and structure to ensure further development but the tannins are so fine and polished that this can be enjoyed now. Drink this old-vine California original from release through 2040. (MRO - 01/15/26)