/BÃS/ VINEYARD
ADELAIDA DISTRICT PASO ROBLES AVA
Planted at an elevation of 1400’, the BÃS vineyard is located in the Santa Lucia mountain range on the geological Monterey formation with siliceous shale stone and Miocene marine sediments. Dry farmed and organic, the vineyard was planted at high density (2,000 vines/acre) and trained in the Échalas tradition found in the Cornas and Hermitage regions of the Northern Rhone valley in France. With a philosophy of more vines per acre but less fruit per vine there is a focus in complexity and concentration in fruit quality. The vineyard was established in 2013 in the heart of California’s 5 year drought. On +45 degree slopes and with no irrigation, the vines represent extreme struggle and resiliency. The vineyard site has a South-East exposure and is within a stone’s throw of an industrial Rock Quarry exposing a 500’ deep cut (excellent soil profile example) into the Mountain side that is commercially mined for shale stone used for road base. 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean creates the extreme diurnal temperature changes of plus 30 degrees for cool nights and warm days.
GRACIANO * MOURVEDRE * GRENACHE * SYRAH
2023 Quench + Temper La Cantera
/BÃS/ VINEYARD * ADELAIDA DISTRICT * PASO ROBLES
34% SYRAH * 33% GRENACHE * 33% GRACIANO
A brilliant blend of 34% Syrah, 33% Grenache, and 33% Graciano, aged 18 months in French oak (30% new), the 2023 La Cantera /BAS/ Vineyard offers beautiful, ripe, fruit-loaded aromatics of blackberries, new leather, peppery garrigue, and flowers. It's medium to full-bodied, has a round, seamless mouthfeel, sweet tannins, and a great finish. This is a brilliant Châteauneuf-du-Pape-like effort to drink over the coming 8-10 years. Drink 2025-2033.
· Native Yeast Fermentation
· Non-fined
· Non-Filtered
2023 Quench + Temper Chapter VII
/BÃS/ VINEYARD * ADELAIDA DISTRICT * PASO ROBLES
75% Grenache * 25% Graciano
Based on 75% Grenache and 25% Graciano and aged 18 months in French oak (30% new), the 2023 Chapter VII /BAS/ Vineyard reveals spicy red and blackberry fruits, pepper, leather, and savory herb-driven aromatics. It's medium to full-bodied, has a pure, layered, seamless mouthfeel, plenty of ripe tannins, and a great finish. This Châteauneuf-du-Pape look-alike is going to shine for a solid decade. Drink 2025-2035.
· Native Yeast Fermentation
· Non-fined
· Non-Filtered
2022 Chapter VI
/BÃS/ VINEYARD * ADELAIDA DISTRICT * PASO ROBLES
70% Grenache * 30% Graciano
The 2022 Quench + Temper Chapter VI sports a ruby/plum hue to go with beautiful aromatics of red and black fruits, spring flowers, pepper, and incense. It’s beautifully textured, medium to full-bodied, has fine tannins, and outstanding length. I love it today, and this complex, satisfying, silky Grenache will keep for a solid 10-12 years.
· Native Yeast Fermentation
· Non-fined
· Non-Filtered
2022 LA CANTERA
/BÃS/ VINEYARD * ADELAIDA DISTRICT * PASO ROBLES
70% Graciano * 30% Syrah
Ripe black and blue fruits, spring flowers, sappy violets, and peppery notes all define the aromatics, and its medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a supple, elegant mouthfeel, ripe, integrated tannins, and a great finish.
· Native Yeast Fermentation
· Non-fined
· Non-Filtered
QUENCH & TEMPER
Quenching and tempering is the process that strengthens and hardens materials like steel by subjecting the steel to the extremes of heat past the transformation range and then rapidly cooling (quenching) down the steel. The quenched steel is then returned to the furnace again at a lower temperature to temper the hardness. This produces a harder, tougher steel that’s stronger than the sum of its parts. It is this concept that Brennan has applied to his project: the vines were planted in one of the most severe droughts in the last 500 years, and forced to seek out water in the hillside depths of the rocky Adelaida District of Paso Robles, California. These extreme conditions of climate and site contribute to the development of strong vines which have been forged out between the anvils of necessity and the hammers of anguish. Like a phoenix rising from ashes, his wines carry an undertone of renewal and transformation as their struggle becomes their strength.
