90% Tempranillo, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Graciano Dark ruby red color with aromas of chocolate pie, toasted crust, raspberry, and cherry. The flavors are bright, some red fruits mixed with spices that transition to a dark and heavy finish. Great with food or just on its own.
2021 was a very interesting growing season. The winter was normal and spring started off nice and smooth. Temperatures slowly warmed and the grapes went through set and bloom right on time. In late June we had a heatwave that impacted the rest of the vintage. We hit a high of 118 degrees and had over 45 days of triple digit weather. The grapes stayed small and the crop load was smaller but loaded with intense flavors.
Tempranillo has quickly become one of my favorite varietals to work with since starting with Coyote Canyon. The grapes are some of the first red grapes to ripen, and they taste delicious. We pick these grapes in the middle of September and ferment them at the winery prior to transferring to barrels for aging. This is one varietal that I like some American Oak so it usually has one new American oak barrel and a couple of used French oak barrels for aging. The sweet oak tones from the American barrels compliment the flavors of the wine well. Blending a little Graciano and Cabernet add color, tannin, depth and complexity to the wine.
