2020 Otto’s Grenache
Old Hill Ranch
Wines from Spring 2022 Release - Limited Inventory Available.
2020 Otto’s Grenache; vines established 2010 ($40) (only 60 cases produced)
Otto’s
Grenache was planted to honor our Step Father Otto Teller. Opinionated and cantankerous, Otto believed grapevines were too coddled and needed great stress to produce the best wines.
Located on the far east side of the Ranch on a warm hillside sloped towards the warm setting sun. The soils are hard and rocky with a shallow and almost impermeable volcanic tuff (ash conglomerate) that limits root depth. These vines are the lowest yielding and least vigorous on the ranch. The vineyard is a true field blend, and is similar in varietal make up to the Ancient Grenache blend as described above, while also including Mourvèdre, Counoise and Clairette Blanche.
Surprisingly (to me) the Otto’s color is a little lighter and the wine more delicate than the Ancient while the fruit intensity is comparable, although dominated by cherry. Yet there is a pronounced earthy component that I find mesmerizing because there is something familiar about it that I can’t quite identify. At first, I was thinking sarsaparilla but now I am going with cedar wood. The tannins are modest but the acid is bright with a tongue smacking sweet/tart finish.
Alc. 14.7%