2016 “Grant” Grenache - Folded Hills

Tart foraged raspberry, white sage, cranberry cocktail. Lifted wild cherry, coastal pine, prickly pear. Pink carnations and cherry blossom, crushed twigs and fresh rosemary. Plump strawberry, red plum, and candy apple burst with gorgeously perfumed aromatics that play intricately with lively notes of fresh flowers and wild herbs. Cedar and clean forest air further the impression of beautiful natural tones complicated by a just dash of spice in the form of powdered cardamom. High toned and remarkably vibrant, backed by earthy notes of sand and pulverized stone along with subtle calcareous minerality. Delicate, feminine, and incredibly perfumed; exceptionally complex and perfectly balanced. Medium in body with soft tannin and elevated acidity. This 2016 "Grant" Grenache by Folded Hills is a uniquely captivating and charming red from Santa Barbara County.

Although it is frequently misunderstood as something that can be made only into high-alcohol red wines, Grenache is a grape that when handled carefully is capable of expressing amazingly ethereal almost Pinot Noir-esque qualities. This bottling, crafted by Folded Hills using Grenache and a pinch of Syrah sourced from within Santa Barbara's Santa Ynez Valley, brilliantly captures this variety's most delicate and highly complex nuances. Haunting aromatics instantly emerge as an unexpected treat here as tart and bright red fruit seem to erupt out of the glass, and its juicy vibrancy continues well onto the palate. A gorgeous fresh piney character, perhaps the result of a bit of whole cluster, adds a beautifully fresh natural edge that is worth of deep contemplation. A stylistically unique, wonderfully executed, and unquestionably delicious expression of Grenache that showcases just how special this grape can be.