Grenache Blend, Cartello

Grenache/Syrah/Carignan

Cartello came to fruition following the exceptional 2018 vintage. Mike Laszlo and Craig Lewis had spent several years prior working harvest for Michael Oravecz at his property, Mila Family Vineyards. An estate that dates back to 2003 when the Oravecz family formed a three-year land grant partnership with the US Davis School of Oenology. With that knowledge, they spent another five years planting perfectly suited clones of each variety in the ideal spots with just the right exposure. Then to take the major risk of farming biodynamically in a region where that seems so foreign...to not pull in all of the fruit from such a generous crop went against their core beliefs. Given that the ‘18 yields were too much for Mila to absorb, Cartello was formed as an outlet to focus on the quality of the property at an everyday price point. The property itself is a stunning 54 acres, with 10 planted, situated in the foothills of Geyser Peak. Being up off of the valley floor the grapes tend to escape the extreme heat that builds below, allowing them to retain a great amount of freshness. The steep and rocky soils provide enough inconvenience to test the character of the vines. The end goal is achieved with honoring the site and soils so the wines are each varietally correct.

Whole cluster Grenache is the focus in this red blend. The stems give this wine great lifted aromatics, and keeps it light on its feet. It’s a perfect chillable red for the warmer months and an ideal partner for a great variety of pairings.