Started Blending the 22 Vintage

In preparation for bottling season, we started to taste and blend the remainder of our 22 vintage.

First up for the new 22s will be the return of the FNG-1, our Willow Creek District 100% Grenache. 22 was a banner Grenache year and we have a solid collection to choose from and create both the FNG and the Fox-3, normally a blend of Syrah and Grenache. Out of our ten barrels, we will use seven of them to make the FNG, expecting to bottle on the 29th of this month. The blend will be a mix of 30% New French oak and the balance unoaked. As 22 was a warm year, the wine is round and ripe but has some killer acidity and tannin! Will be a welcome return to the lineup.

22 was a huge vintage for beautifully ripe Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietals. For us, the first blend is always the TOPGUN Cuvee. The very high tech blending sheet is shown below.

We first started by tasting every option and then blending the wines together to get the perfect result. The list on the left with circles is the 2022 TGC winner. Distinctly a Cabernet blend, but with all the goodness from Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. This fun wine will be in bottle by the end of March.

Fight’s On!

Bull Schmitt