21 Grams

Who’s ready for a RHONE BLEND?!

I am for one – you may know my alter ego, “Agent Rhone” at Wine Spies. He’s fully on board with what’s going down here.

Entry No. 023 “21 Grams” is another full blown collaboration. This time with good friend, amazing human, and rockstar winemaker Brian Graham. Not familiar? He’s part of the “Texas Triumvirate” – Jason Moore and Chris Tynan being the other two – who migrated west to make some kick ass wines.

Brian believes in Grenache and Syrah the way some people believe in the soul. Grown in the right place, with the right winemaking touch and a near-perfect vintage – the whole becomes more than the sum of its parts.

And in case you’re not up to speed on your weights and measures and pseudosciences, 21 grams is, apparently, the weight of your soul:

In 1907, a physician named Duncan MacDougall placed dying patients on an industrial scale and recorded an inexplicable drop at the moment of death.

21 grams. The weight of the soul.

And the sum here might add a few extra grams to your wine-addled soul.

Brian immersed himself in wine, studying at the University of Bordeaux, then honed his skills at small chateaux in Bordeaux and Burgundy. And as any good Burgundian knows, the appreciation for a certain “cru” goes deep.

Which brings us to Judge Vineyard.

Brian has worked with this site for years, and rumor has it this 2024 will be the first vintage released under another label which we will not name. Meticulously farmed, and one of the coolest vineyards in the region where the fruit hangs deep into October. That allows for intense ripening and maybe that little extra dash of BOLD in this stuff.

Only a select few get their hands on fruit from here. Donelan is perhaps the most well known, and their Judge Vineyard scores massively with critics – 94-98+ points every year. 

When the barrel samples came in, we immediately knew it had the right stuff. Minor but meaningful refinement from Bobby took it to the next level and now it’s reminiscent of a great Southern Rhone blend, with 69% Grenache, 29% Syrah, and 2% Mourvedre. It glows a purply-red hued in the glass, and churns waves of dried flowers, black pepper and black fruit.  On the tongue it’s all blackberry preserves, black plum, pepper and Aztec chocolate with wisps of licorice, cured/smoked meat and iron shavings. DEEP and delicious, and ready to serve up one lip-smacking, eye-closing, “Mmmmm” sip after another, straight from the pull. 

Like all our wines, it’s drinking fantastic out the gate, but this one will surely go the distance in style.

“Aged 18 months in 60% new French oak. From the Judge Family Vineyard in Bennett Valley, it has lovely high-toned violets interlaced with cherry fruit and blackberry fruit, some bramble berry, and brighter raspberry notes from the Grenache fruit. The tannins are gravelly, resolving into a velvety finish layered with sweet spice and candied violets.”

— The Scribe