Location: Mendocino, CA
Alcohol: 11.8%

Elegant and aromatic, with a soft structure from 100% whole cluster, perhaps more akin to Cru Beaujolais than Carignan. Juicy, crunchy, and gulpable. Likes a slight chill and a burgundy glass.

100% whole cluster, lightly food tred, then fermented in the small vessel 3/4 ton bins. Fermentation occurs naturally with indigenous yeast, with no additions or cold soak, and two punch downs a day, by hand. Once fermentation is complete, the wine was gently pressed to neutral French oak barrels, without settling, for native ML and 10 months elevage. The wine remained on heavy lees for 8 months, racked twice for bottling, with no fining, filtration, or additions other than a small amount of SO2.

Carignan has a long history in California, and while over half of its plantings were removed, it is now gaining a reputation as variety well suited to our Mediterranean climate and capable of producing quality wine. Planted over 75 years ago by Rick’s father, Rick Trimble Jr now manages this 10-acre, head trained, dry farmed, organically certified block.