Grenache Distenta III 2021

Based around the Eleven Confessions Vineyard with inclusions from The Third Twin and Cumulus, the 2021 Grenache Distenta III includes 8.4% Syrah, 7.4% Mourvèdre, and 3.2% Petite Sirah with dollops of Petit Manseng and Muscat. The nose here is on the focused and precise side of the roster, driven by vibrant but ripe, extravagant red fruits and aromas of fennel, black pepper and underbrush with touches of alcoholic heat. The palate echoes this relative elegance with a rich yet energetic texture that leads to an herbal, initially latent and reticent finish that expands with further aeration. Again, as found throughout this roster, the wines are undeniably impressive and even admirable in their singular nature. Still, it is impossible to ignore the wine's intrusive alcoholic payload and how this affects its overall balance. (ML, 8/2024)