Horsepower Vineyards Grenache Fiddleneck Vineyard Walla Walla Valley 2018

“This is the first edition of this wine and any lover of world-class Grenache will be very glad that this wine has been made. Planted in 2015, the ‘Fiddleneck Vineyard’ is a tightly spaced (3X3) vineyard, located just south of the ‘En Chamberlin’ and ‘The Tribe Vineyard.’ This is a 17 acre parcel that is now planted to only 6.5 acres. The name ‘Fiddleneck’ is an ode to the Fiddleneck flowers that were growing on this land, as Christophe chose to leave the land to its natural surroundings for many years prior to planting. This is now the fourth leaf for Grenache here, as this wine shows quite differently than Grenache from ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ — but is every bit as good. A rich core of red and dark fruits mingle with tobacco leaf, Umami, beef fat and green peppercorns on this evocative nose. Once on the mouth, you are blown away with the pillowy texture. This is utterly seamless wine with a bright sense of minerality and a brilliant vein of tension. Bright Yakima cherry tones mingle with Satsuma orange rind, seaweed, red raspberry cordial, red rose water, and smoldering rocks on the palate. The purity of fruit, and aromatic and flavor range created is just insanely good. While showing a good degree of richness, this is highly elegant Grenache that is best enjoyed over the next eight years. But why wait?”