Rancho Sisquoc, Santa Maria Valley
37% Merlot, 30% Sangiovese, 25% Syrah, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon
After 20 years producing Clendenen Family wines, this is our first red varietal blend; an unconventional assemblage of traditionally made red wine varietals. We used wine lots of excellent quality that did not fit neatly into any of our other products. Those lots received the same conscientious winemaking protocols that we apply to all our wines ensuring a blend of balance, finesse, and longevity. Four different varietals were chosen, each aged 3 years in barrel.
VINEYARD
During the 2019 harvest “buying opportunities” to obtain some interesting lots of Syrah, Merlot, and Sangiovese from Rancho Sisquoc arose. 2019 was a great vintage for all red varieties in Santa Barbara County, so we knew if a blend was created it would be good, really good.
CELLAR
All components were fermented and aged separately in neutral Francois Freres French oak barrels, 10% were 500L oak puncheons. All wines aging in the cellar are tasted and analyzed every quarter. After 3 years in barrel, the individual lots were evaluated and selected for the blend. The wine is complex, integrated, balanced and food friendly.
