Past Vintage Notes

Notes: The 2022 Royal Nonesuch Farm Red opens with stunning aromas of blackberry, olive tapenade, worn leather, and grilled plum. The palate explodes with flavors of raspberry, Spanish chorizo, black pepper, and tamarind. The finish is supple, with round tannins and an impressively long finish that leaves lingering blueberry and chocolate notes.

Blend: 73% Grenache, 17% Syrah, 8% Graciano, 2% Clairette Blanche

Vineyard: 100% Estate – York Mountain.

Fermentation: Cold soaked for 6 days, then wild fermented in concrete tanks and oak foudre with twice daily pumpovers or delestages. 15 days total maceration. Fermented 43% whole cluster. Bottled without fining or filtration.

Cooperage & Elevage: Aged for 20 months in 225L and 500L barrels, 10% new French oak.

Alc: 14.7% | pH: 3.68 | TA: 5.7 g/l

Bottling Date: May 6th, 2024

Cases Produced: 375

Notes: This wine captures the wild, yet peaceful identity of this incredible vineyard. Exotic aromas of lavender, blackberry, adobo, black pepper, and petrichor soar from the glass. The palate packs flavors of blueberry, orange peel, sassafras, and hints of citronella. Supple and profound, the mid-palate builds toward a dense mouthfeel that is juxtaposed by salinity and driving acidity.

Blend: 70% Grenache, 17% Graciano, 12% Syrah, 1% Clairette Blanche

Vineyard: 100% Estate – York Mountain.

Fermentation: Cold soaked for 5 days, then wild fermented in concrete tanks and oak foudre with twice daily pumpovers or delestages. 15 days total maceration. Fermented 37% whole cluster. Bottled without fining or filtration.

Cooperage & Elevage: Aged for 20 months in 225L and 500L barrels, 10% new French oak.

Alc: 14.5% | pH: 3.64 | TA: 5.5 g/l

Bottling Date: May 1th, 2023

Cases Produced: 419

Notes: Exotic aromas of black cherry, cracked pepper, orange zest, pine sap, and Oaxacan mole soar from the glass. The palate boasts scintillating flavors of blackberry, lavender, cocoa powder, and Pamplona chorizo. The surprisingly rich midpalate seamlessly transitions, with just the right amount of tannins, into a persistent and elegant finish.

Blend: 73% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 5% Graciano, 2% Clairette Blanche

Vineyard: 100% Estate – York Mountain.

Fermentation: Cold soaked for 3 days with twice daily pumpovers, then wild fermented in concrete tanks and foudre with twice daily pumpovers or delestages. 13 days total maceration. Fermented 27% whole cluster. Bottled without fining or filtration.

Cooperage & Elevage: Aged for 20 months in 225L and 500L barrels, 10% new French oak.

Alc: 14.4% | pH: 3.86 | TA: 5.5 g/l

Bottling Date: May 6th, 2022

Cases Produced: 410

Notes: Dark and brooding aromas of violets, blackberry, pepper and olive tapenade introduce the 4th vintage from the Royal Nonesuch Farm. Flavors of black cherry, seared ribeye, and wild mushrooms intermingle with a hint of chaparral and hoisin. The midpalate is concentrated, with a compelling velvety texture that freshens on the very long finish.

Blend: 40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 28% Graciano, 2% Clairette Blanche

Vineyard: 100% Estate – York Mountain.

Fermentation: Cold soaked for 5 days with twice daily pumpovers, then wild fermented in concrete tanks and foudre with twice daily pumpovers or delestages. 15 days total maceration. Fermented 45% whole cluster. Bottled without fining or filtration.

Cooperage & Elevage: Aged for 20 months in 225L barrels, 16% new French oak.

Alc: 14.6% | pH: 3.84 | TA: 5.4 g/l

Bottling Date: May 6th, 2021

Cases Produced: 229

Released Fall 2020

Notes: The 2018 Royal Nonesuch Farm Red opens up with a gorgeous nose of blackberry sorbet, cracked pepper, spring flowers, fresh-turned earth, brown-eyed women and red grenadine. The wine hits the palate with an extraordinarily seamless display of rich, pure fruit and a full-bodied, multilayered texture. Yet, it remains light on its feet as the silky, soft and long finish leaves you with lingering spice.

Blend: 67% Grenache, 18% Syrah, 14% Graciano, 1% Clairette Blanche

Vineyard: 100% Estate – York Mountain.

Fermentation: Cold soaked for 7 days with twice daily pumpovers, then wild fermented in concrete tanks and foudre with twice daily pumpovers or delestages. 17 days total maceration. Fermented 60% whole cluster. Bottled without fining or filtration.

Cooperage & Elevage: Aged for 20 months in 500L barrels, 10% new Hungarian oak.

Alc: 14.6% | pH: 3.83 | TA: 5.1 g/l

Bottling Date: May 12, 2020

Cases Produced: 481

Released Fall 2019

Notes: This is the wine we set out to make when we planted the Royal Nonesuch Farm. It is suspenseful — with an elegant and sultry nose but a powerful and luscious texture. An absolutely stunning bouquet of violets, raspberries, black pepper and anise introduce this seductive wine. The palate swaggers with flavors of blackberry, cocoa, chaparral and lavender as it evolves into a seamless, round, yet bright finish that lasts for days (if we could just keep from drinking it all tonight).

Blend: 48% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Graciano, 2% Clairette Blanche

Vineyard: 100% Estate – York Mountain.

Fermentation: Cold soaked for 7 days with twice daily pumpovers, then wild fermented in concrete tanks and foudre with daily pumpovers or delestages. 17 days of total maceration. Fermented with 40% whole clusters. Bottled without fining or filtration.

Cooperage & Elevage: Aged for 18 months in used 500L, 320L and 225L barrels.

Alc: 14.8% | pH: 3.82 | TA: 5.6 g/l

Bottling Date: April 2nd, 2019

Cases Produced: 327

Released Fall 2018

Notes: This powerhouse wine offers up an intoxicating nose of crushed violets, peppercorns, blackberries and seared ribeye. Flavors of blueberries, black licorice and espresso give way to a full-bodied, seamless and gorgeously textured mid-palate. This is a wine of great complexity and power, but also of purity and nuance – And while it is drinking fantastic now, it will benefit from a few years in your cellar.

Blend: 50% Syrah, 30% Graciano, 20% Grenache

Vineyard: 100% Estate – York Mountain.

Fermentation: Cold soaked for 7-days with twice daily pumpovers, then wild fermented in concrete tanks with twice daily delestages. 3-week total maceration. Fermented 25% whole cluster. Unfiltered.

Cooperage & Elevage: Aged for 22 months in neutral 500L oak puncheons.

Alc: 14.6% | pH: 3.67 | TA: 6.2 g/l

Bottling Date: June 1st, 2018

Cases Produced: 136