Tierra 2020

Appellation:

Shenandoah Valley/El Dorado County

Winemaker Notes:

We were inspired to make a Rhône-style blend while tasting the very best wine from a neighboring winery and realizing we had all the key wine components. With the amazing blending skills of our winemaker Antonia, we proportioned our estate Alban clone Grenache, French (877) clone Syrah and Mourvedre in a perfect balance that showcases the amazing region we have here for growing and making Rhône wines. No oak was infused and the wine was aged nearly two years before bottling in March 2022.

Vineyard Notes:

Estate Grenache grows on our steep hillside at 2,000-foot altitude in the granitic and volcanic soil of our vineyard estate in the Shenandoah Valley of the Sierra Foothills. It is grafted on special drought-tolerant rootstock which allows it to dig deep in this soil for water and we dry farm it. It thrives in the warm daytime breezes from the Central Valley and cool Sierra evenings, a 30-degree swing in temperature. We grow the infamous "Alban" clone, originally brought to California by "Rhône Ranger" John Alban who worked as a winemaker at the Château Rayas in Châteauneuf du Pape. It is super rare to find this clone in the Sierras. We have 2 acres growing.

Our 2020 Syrah originated from the neighboring Chapman Vineyard in Amador County. It is one of the few vineyards growing the French (877) clone of Syrah which we love for food pairing. The Chapman vineyard is highly sought after for its Syrah by other wineries and has the same altitude, excellent sun exposure and gentle breezes as our own vineyards here at La Mesa. We grafted this clone onto our estate in 2020 to ensure we have constant supply.  The vineyard produces a stereotypical Sierra Foothills Syrah – excellent fruit structure paired with soil minerality.

Our 2020 Mourvedre grapes were sourced from a nearby high-altitude (2,800 ft) vineyard in El Dorado County, Spanish Creek. Hidden behind a forest lies a beautiful hillside vineyard with 30-year old vine Mourvedre. The owner has been farming these grapes since they were planted and we worked closely together to pick the perfect time to harvest. The vineyard benefits from cooler evening temperatures at that altitude and the old vines dig deep into the mineral soil producing exceptional grape flavors.