2023 Blanc de Noirs of Grenache - Santa Barbara County
2023 Blanc de Noirs of Grenache - Santa Barbara County
This wine comes entirely from a newer block at the organically certified Watch Hill Vineyard. Watch Hill lies on the northwest border of the Alisos Canyon AVA, directly between the Santa Ynez Valley AVA and the Santa Maria Valley AVA, and uniquely exhibits characteristics of both. Situated on the hills of the San Antonio Creek Valley, the vineyard experiences warm days preceding consistently cool evenings. The soils are derived from the Paso and Sisquoc formations and consist of weathered sandstone, shale, and marly limestone.The block we source our Blanc de Noirs from is planted entirely to the Alban clone of Grenache. This particular block has an unusual exposure for the AVA, facing due west and receiving only afternoon sun. These days, Alban is my favorite clone of Grenache—it’s absolutely delicious as a sparkling wine!
More Info
More Info
Our 2023 Blanc de Noirs of Grenache is made from 100% Grenache Noir grapes. A tiny portion of 2024 juice was added to restart the secondary fermentation in the bottle, a process essential for creating natural carbonation. The grapes were harvested in early October 2023 on an especially cold morning and then sent directly to press. The juice was settled and racked into neutral oak barrels, where it fermented and aged for one year without sulfur. After one year of rest, it was time to wake the wine up. A small portion of the 2024 ferment was blended into the 2023 base wine, just enough to raise the sugar levels for the native yeast to produce CO₂, naturally carbonating the wine in the bottle. The vineyard’s native yeasts fully fermented the remaining sugar, creating a delicate effervescence. The wine was left on tirage for two months post-dryness before we hand-disgorged, capped, and cleaned each bottle on January 23, 2025
Tasting Notes
Tasting Notes
What’s not to love? She’s elegant yet playful, she’s passionate about fine art and craves a delicious but casual dinner. Punchy in all the right ways, she’s like the feeling of wandering through a pear orchard in bloom. Balanced with a lively zip and delicate pastel hues, with just a kiss of brioche to remind you that we can be serious too. Start the party with this absolute delight— the bottle won’t last long.
Wine Details
Wine Details
- 10.5%ABV
- 23 cases
- Certified organic grapes
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about the label
Art: The clarkia amoena on the front label and layia platyglossa on the back were painted by the one and only, Eileen Anderson. We needed something bright, cheery, and fitting for this wine—there was only one choice! Clarkia species thrive in our warm growing climate, with native stands found throughout the nearby San Rafael Mountains. Both clarkia and tidy tips flourish when I sow them as well. A big part of what we do is re-incorporating native ecology alongside our vineyard rows, and since these species are so well-adapted to our environment, they form the backbone of the pollinator rows running the length of our vineyards. We’re lucky that the flowers that want to be here are so beautiful!
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