Vineyard Notes: Gary Gonsalves farms about 100 acres of grapes in Contra Costa County, many of them 100+ year old plantings of intermixed Carignane, Cinsault, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Grenache & Alicante Bouschet, among others. Horse Ranch Vineyard lies within the city of Antioch, less than a mile from the famous Evangelho Vineyard & on the same dry sandy soil. It is a mixture of Mourvedre, Carignane & Alicante Bouschet planted around the turn of the 20th century.

Cellar Notes: We brought in three tons of this hand-harvested fruit & destemmed it to three open-top bins with no additions. The must was left to ferment with native yeasts. The wine was then pressed to tank, allowed to settle, then barreled to neutral oak barrels, where it matured with regular topping until January 2026. The wine was bottled unfiltered & minimally sulfured.

Tasting Notes: A lovely array of fruits & spice on the nose, with blackberry, watermelon, clove & cardamom. The palate is full & juicy, with moderate tannin & a long silky finish.

Pair With: Seared duck breast, Ratatouille, Roast Turkey