Yeah, I added a couple of extra of the grenache blanc…that just sounded so damn good.
1 Like
Popped the 23 Evangelho Carignane last night and it was a bigger, more backward version of the 22 OV. needs time, but a ton of stuffing!
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Thanks to everyone on all the 2026 Winter Release support - especially coming right off of BD17 
Thank you! The 24 Evangelho Carignane is nuts. It is more forward / approachable than the 23 yet has all the stuffing. You are going to dig dig dig it.
Thank you. I have about 6 cases of this stashed away and may need to include this in a library offer later this year.
Thank you Psyched for you to try the wines!
Thank you. It is delightful and that perfect balance between super fun and OMG.
A little bit on the 4 wines of the Winter Release
2024 Garden Gnome Grenache Blanc
12% ABV
Sonoma Valley (Kenwood)
1992 planted, own-rooted, dry farmed, no spray. Grafted from Primitivo 4 years ago
Fermented and aged in 1 Concrete egg.
I LOVE this wine. Note: It has a lot of sediment- Racking the egg clean is hard and we chose not to filter to keep the mouthfeel (which is magical). Stand it up before serving or swirl the Sea Monkeys in.
2024 Mariana’s Vineyard Chardonnay
13.2% ABV
Santa Cruz Mountains
Fermented in steel (through ML) and racked into 10-12 year old barrels for aging.
F***! If you dug the 2023, the 2024 is even better. I hate to make EU comparisons, but here one comes… If the 23 was Mersault in profile, this is more 1er Cru Chablis. It is a tad leaner and has more acid. A little more reduction (the fancy kind) on the nose.
2024 Evangelho OV Carignane
13% ABV
100% Whole Cluster
As mentioned above, this picks up where the 23 left off. More forward in deep raspberry, thyme, mineral space. Great stuffing. Pure pleasure wine that will go the distance.
2024 Shake Ridge Ranch Mourvèdre
12.75% ABV
Sierra Foothills
100% Whole Cluster
This is the most elegant of the Shake Mourvèdre wines I’ve made. Though purely “us” it leans fine-dining vs backyard BBQ. It is exquisite, everything in balance, tannins perfect (fine-grain plentiful / supportive vs obtrusive). This and the Chard feel like trophy wines.
5 Likes
• 2022 Santa Cruz M-CF Mariana’s Vineyard.
Had a few days ago, but forgot to post this. I have nothing to add to @Keith_Levenberg ‘s spot on review from May. “Calming” is his perfect descriptor for this wine. Smooth, suave, gentle, just great, and great now.
4 Likes
• 2022 Marvelous Mourvèdre
This was nothing short of spectacular, even better than the first time I tried it. It’s maturing into an elegance that I didn’t suspect was going to be there.
From CT review:
Second pass at this wine and even better second time around. Fabulous raspberry/red currant fruit, rose and violet florals, along with a new juniper berry note that just added an even greater level of complexity. The youthful acidic lift has developed into an unbelievable weightlessness. Wow.
Score: 95. Relative to expectations: +++
6 Likes