2021 Halter Ranch Grenache Blanc

Attractive golden yellow hue. Aromas of citrus fruit, pear, white peach, pineapple, and honeysuckle. Medium bodied and well balanced. Crisp acidity leads to a clean, refreshing finish. TG (3/22)

Halter Ranch lies west of Paso Robles in the Adelaida District. Here, the cool breeze off the Pacific Ocean creates ideal growing conditions for grenache blanc and picpoul. Minerality in the grenache blanc complements the lively acidity and subtle fruit of the picpoul. After fermentation (two thirds in barrel, one third in tank), the wine was aged in oak for a further ten months. Immediately enjoyable, this balanced, refreshing wine will fully develop over five years. TG (5/22)

Halter Ranch is located on the western side of Paso Robles in the Adelaida District. The vineyard’s steep, south-facing hills reach 1950 feet in elevation and provide excellent sun exposure to counter the cooling influence of the nearby Pacific Ocean. The blocks of the vineyard that we harvest for our Grenache Blanc are slightly lower in elevation, 1530 feet. Of the 2,200 total acres at the ranch, only a small percentage is planted to vineyards, leaving the remainder of the land to its natural landscape.

Rainfall: Just under 10 inches (below normal)
Bloom: Late May
Weather: Winter was very dry, with less than ten inches of rain. Spring and summer were typical of Paso Robles’ west side; cool nights and warm days.

Harvest Date: 20 September
Grapes: Average Brix 23.0˚
TA: 5.68 g/L
pH: 3.30
Fermentation: 100% direct-to-press whole cluster.
Barrels: Fermented in barrel for four months (12% new French oak, 33% stainless steel, 55% two to three year old barrels). Barrel aged on lees another ten months (60% one year old American oak and 40% French oak)
Aging: Ten months in barrel

Sustainably farmed, hand-harvested grapes; whole-cluster pressed; fermented on the native yeast; full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur 35 ppm at crush and 85 ppm during aging. Pad filtered loosely at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

OwenBargreen.com: 92 Points “The 2021 ‘Halter Ranch’ Grenache Blanc comes from a site south of Paso Robles. Very fresh and showing gooseberry and melon notes with copious minerals, this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2023-2028.” -Owen Bargreen (April 2023)

Average Rating: 91.3

No. of Tasting Notes: 25

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