Inspiration
Our love of Spanish varietals inspired us
to source this rare red grape, Graciano, grown at Two Wolves Vineyard in 2018.
I originally intended to use this wine as a blending component in our
Tempranillo, but the wine turned out so delicious and unique that I felt it had
to be bottled separately for the enjoyment of our fans.
The Harvest
The growing season and harvest of 2020 was
another relatively cool vintage, which allowed for a long maturation time for
the Graciano grapes at Two Wolves Vineyard. The grapes were harvested on
September 29th, with a sugar content of 23.3 Brix.
Winemaking
The grapes were entirely destemmed and crushed into a small, open top
fermenter. After a two-day cold soak period, the must was inoculated with yeast
to begin fermentation. After the fermentation was completed, the wine was
pressed off to a tank for settling and later racked to neutral French oak
barrels for aging. The wine aged for 17 months before being lightly filtered
and bottled in early May 2022.
The Wine
The wine has a dark ruby violet color. The nose is very distinctive,
with aromas of ripe plums, cedar, and cloves. On the palate the wine is
medium-bodied with flavors of black cherries and mince pie. The wine has very
smooth tannins and excellent acidity, enabling it to be a great companion to
many meals.
Food Pairings
This wine will pair well with a wide variety of foods, including duck
with a cherry reduction sauce, rack of lamb, and roasted beet salad, to name
just a few choices. This wine could be decanted 15-20 minutes before serving.
