2023 Mencia
Nolan Vineyard
Alisos Canyon AVA
Santa Barbara County
The "Vaquero" Issue
Alc. 12.5% by vol.
The Vintage:
Before the official vintage began, we had a solid amount of rain that started at the end of 2022 and all throughout the Spring of 2023. This gave way to a chilly Spring and slower/ longer growing season. This is more in line of the typical growing season prior to 2012, which was the start of many drought years leading up to 2023. Once the temperate heat and plenty of sun was upon us for summer, by mid fall the grapes were ready for the picking. Mencia was picked October 2nd, which was amazingly one day prior to last year. With this vintage being cooler, the grapes had a little more acid and a little less depth in maturity.
The Vineyard:
Nolan Vineyard is located in the heart of Santa Barbara County, just North of Los Alamos, in the newly designated Alisos Canyon AVA. There are 120 acres planted on rolling hillsides. This block is on the North East portion facing South over looking the majority of the vineyard.
The Process:
The grapes were hand harvested at night and brought to the winery in the early morning. We de-stem the fruit into steel open top fermenters, but leave about 10% stems to add some depth. Cold soak for 3 days, with gentle punchdowns twice a day for three weeks until Wine is dry. Rack the free run juice and press out the remaining juice from the skins. Juice will then age in neutral oak for months. Racked to tank prior to bottling, bottled unfined and unfiltered. Small doses of SO2 were used during Barrel aging and just prior to bottling.
The Wine:
Up front on the nose you get hints of strawberry and woodiness. The taste hits with fresh raspberry , earthiness, and fresh anise. All brought together by silky tannin that coats the sides of your tongue.
Additional Notes:
We went with the other side of the pendulum for this vintage. We've nicknamed this vintage the "Pinot Killer". In reference to this 2023 is more in the style of Pinot Noir rather than the brooding classic Spanish style.
About the Label:
With the Spanish heritage linked to both the wine and Santa Barbara County, kind of made sense to go put them together and go Vaquero or Cowboy themed. We wanted this label to have the feel of a cattle branding, so this is our first and only no color label. Most of the fonts give you the feel of old Western "WANTED" posters. All finished with a classic lasso around the Mencia.