2011 Graft Grenache

One of the things I am happy about at pdwr is the opportunity to learn about new wines that are practically under my nose and tell you about them early. in preparation for writing volume 3.3, I received samples from a new project called Graft. I learned from the material included that the wine is the product of three partners who met while they were interns at Williams-Selyem in 2008, Ryan Prichard, Diego Roig and Sheri Zarkoob. Since then, they have worked with Medlock Ames, Peay, Hartford Court, Copain Custom Crush and Lambert Bridge. This may very well be their first release.

My samples were from 2011, a vintage that did pretty well if you beat the rains, and the Graft were very well made examples. As you can see, production is very small.  The full reviews of Graft (invluding Viognier) will appear in Volume 3.3 of pdwr. They have a really tempting (actually insane) program for purchasing offering 10% on six, or 20% on twelve bottles. 

91 2011 Graft Grenache 

Mendocino County, Dark Horse Vineyard, 13.5%, 67 cs., $32

The nose is raspberry with a dusty mantle of spice box and florals. In the mouth, the wine comes across as a little rustic, yet possesses a fresh, smooth red berry and bramble to go along with a supple spicy core. Drink 2014 – 2018. 

www.graftwines.com

2011 Field Recordings Petite Sirah Jesperson Vineyard

92 2012 Field Recordings Petite Sirah, Edna Valley, Jesperson Vineyard, 14.6%, 180 cs. $22

Made by Andrew Jones

If you have spent any time in the countryside during early winter, such as marshlands, or vineyards after harvest you may have spotted an amorphous mass of black flying against the sky, moving through the air as if it is a single organism. After learning that it is a flock [murmuration] of birds, starlings, numbering in the thousands, most who see it never forget it. Here is a video. 

Owner and winemaker, Andrew Jones’ inspiration for his brand is from photographing these murmurations and sharing them on his labels. The philosophy is is to use single vineyards with distinctive character and produce small quantities of reasonably priced wines. With recent tastings of a Chenin Blanc from 33 year old vines, to a pair of single vineyard bordeaux variety field blends. Frankly it was difficult to decide on which one to pick for WOTW as all the wines are very good quality and will be reviewed in Volume 3.2 of pdwr in December. 

Petite Sirah is a grape that can run the gamut from tough and monochromatic to brilliantly prismatic. A beguiling wine, they seem to show their best attributes in early youth, or after a dozen years. In between is when they can turn into brooding, tannic examples that makes us wonder ‘What happened?” The Field Recordings Jesperson is clearly at that point where it is in the early stage of trajectory full of fresh liveliness. 

Aged in 60% new American Oak, and 40% used French Oak. The nose is is brilliant crushed raspberry, currant, briar, laurel and plum. The palate entry is effortlessly dialed in with plum, currant, espresso and a tactile blue fruit, cedar and floral notes. Tannins are still in the background at this time. Drink 2013 - 2015, or 2020 - 2026.  www.fieldrecordingswine.com