Halcón 2013s just hit

WINE TALK
1

2013 Vintage
Following the second in a series of dry winters, bud-break at Halcón Vineyards occurred in early April 2013, slightly ahead of usual. Mid-April brought four days of low temperatures around the freezing point, resulting in scattered bud loss. Spring was slightly cooler than average, while summer was warm and even, with no significant heat-spikes. The Halcón Syrah was picked October 12th with the Grenache and Mourvedre harvested one week later. The April frost and dry conditions made their mark with a very low crop of just one third of a ton per acre! The combination of extended hang-time, low crop level and established vines gave us our most mature, concentrated fruit to date.
2013 Prado
The 2013 Halcón Prado once again comprises a blend of 50% Roussanne and 50% Marsanne, with all fruit from the outstanding Alder Springs vineyard. With this vintage we picked these grapes at an optimal, slightly lower, brix of 23.5, giving us a finished alcohol of 13.8%. The 2013 Prado is a hybrid of the two prior years – there is the honey, lychee fruit, creamy notes of the 2011 but also the crisper acids and spicy characteristics of the 2012. Aged in French oak, 20% new, bottled unfined and unfiltered.

2013 Esquisto
The frost in 2013 was particularly hard on the Grenache, an early budding varietal. As a result, the blend of the 2013 Esquisto switched from the 2012 vintage to 60% Mourvedre and 40% Grenache. Aged in used French oak puncheons. Just 60 cases bottled, unfined and unfiltered.
This wine really benefited from the warmer temps and extended hang-time, giving a slightly riper (14.4% alcohol) profile than the previous two vintages. There is an extra layering and depth. Surprisingly, given the higher proportion of Mourvedre, there is more red than black fruits.

2013 Alturas
The 2013 Halcón Alturas is 100% Syrah with just a few buckets worth of co-fermented Viognier. With the mature fruit and heavily lignified stems we made the decision to include (35%) whole-cluster for the first time. We utilized a single new French oak puncheon, providing 20% new oak. Bottled unfined, unfiltered. 120 cases produced.
We love the meaty, garrigue complexities from the stems. The maturity of the stems has avoided the coarse, green tannins that can result from whole-cluster fermentation. The strong fruit gives this wine some early accessibility but the excellent tannic structure should allow for good aging possibilities. The finished alcohol is 13.6%.

I’m on a serious no-buying budget right now. :frowning: I love the Prado and Alturas (haven’t tasted any Esquito yet).

2

Kyle - this isn’t going to help your budget issues, but the 12 Esquisto was killer (as was the Alturas, but that seems to need more time).

Strange, I didn’t get the email… time to check spam

3

Haven’t had the Esquisito yet, but have had a hard time keeping my hands off the Alturas - through with most of my '09s so far, trying to hold off on the rest. Tried one of the '12s with a four hour decant and it was excellent, although as Joe mentions, needs time.

Fantastic deal as well.

4

Had a '13 Alturas barrel sample in a Halcon horizontal vertical back in July and it was already impressive at that stage.

5

Did you find the email Joe?

6

already put in my order

7

My wife loves the Prado Marsanne/Roussanne blend. The Halcon solicitation is the one from which that I know I can order and the spousal response is upgraded from “That’s nice,” to “Oh boy!” So, within an hour that order was completed.

8

Thanks, all (especially Mark [basic-smile.gif] ) Sent Paul an email order last night.