When we replanted the Bradford Mountain Estate Vineyard in 2007, we were inspired to try different grape varieties. After multiple trips to the Rhone Valley of Southern France, the inspiration to plant Grenache was solidified. Without experience growing the varietal in our mountain vineyard, or making much in the winery, we weren’t sure what expression the resulting wines would put forward. Now we know. The Grenache from the mountain produces a high quality wine with all the classic characteristics of great Grenache—soft, luscious fruit, pepper and licorice spice, and some of the garriguey flavors, with the essence of minerality from the site coming through. Building on this base, we strived to create a blend with depth and complexity, while not overwhelming the nuances of the core. Each year we experiment and trial the different Rhone flavors from our mountain vineyard. Along with the Grenache, the wine has classic components of Carignane and Mourvèdre, balancing the wine beautifully and giving it potential to age for at least 7-10 years.