NOTES FROM JUSTIN:

2012 was the only normal season we have had in quite awhile. Not chilly like ‘10 and ‘11, not dry like ‘13 was or ‘14 will be. It was completely average. I don’t mean that in a bad way either. I just mean we had an average amount of rainfall, an average temperature range, and an average crop-load. It was actually quite nice working with an average season. But what I have come to realize after farming here for, well, for a long time, is that average seasons are quite rare, and not normal at all! I always get a kick out of our European counterparts’ misconception that California farming is so boring because every season is exactly the same. Au contraire!

The wines from 2012 are really growing on me. I have to admit that initially, right after putting them into barrel, I was a little perplexed with what I tasted. They didn’t have the sweet flesh that I was expecting from the warmer season. What I tasted was more akin to a cross of ‘10s and ’09s. Great dark chalky tannins, like the ‘10s, but definitely more ripe aromatics like the ‘09s. However now, as I taste them, they keep gaining more and more flesh. They just took their sweet time showing off the fruit driven side to them. It is quite peculiar, which leads me to believe these wines will only keep getting better and better as they evolve in the bottle and will reward some patience.

When tasting the James Berry Vineyard this spring dark cherries and red fruits lead the way thanks to the Grenache, but with the addition of a new block of Monastrell (Spanish clone of Mourvèdre) there is this core of spice that is new to this wine. I love it. Of course it is wild and fruit driven with great chalky tannins, but this is a JBV more akin to the ‘10, it will greatly reward those of you with patience who will allow this wine to bloom.

Blend: 43% Grenache, 29% Mourvedre, 18% Syrah, 10% Counoise. 15.8% alc. 1500 cases produced.

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