2020 Fingers Crossed, Head Held High Grenache, Santa Ynez Valley, Bottle (750ml)

LP98 "The 2020 Grenache Head Held High delivers a medium to deep garnet-purple color. Fragrant notes of red currant jelly, kirsch, red roses, and licorice pop from the glass, leading to hints of iris bulb and fertile loam. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and muscular with firm, fine-grained tannins, and just enough freshness, finishing long and earthy. The fruit this year comes from Bien Nacido and Sanford & Benedict Vineyards. This is a blend of 77% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 9% Syrah, and 4% white wine, which is the 2020 White Wine blend of Chardonnay, Roussanne, and Marsanne. The Grenache vinification included 51% whole cluster. The final blend was aged 20 months in French oak barrels, 25% new, and bottled in July 2022. 310 cases were made." LPB for TWI Aug 2023

JD98 "The 2020 Grenache Head Held High brings slightly more richness and depth compared to the 2021 (at least at this stage) and is loaded with red and black fruits, peppery herbs, flowers, sandalwood, and spicy nuances. It does everything right, and it’s full-bodied, concentrated, has remarkable purity, and fine-grained tannins. This sensational Grenache is one of the finest expressions of the variety I've tasted from California. It will evolve for 10-15 years.Looking at the 2020s from Fingers Crossed, these show the richer, riper style of the vintage and are noticeably bigger wines than the 2021s. Nevertheless, they hold onto a beautiful sense of vibrancy and are flawlessly balanced. The 2021s come across as more cool climate-inspired, with bright, fresher styles that certainly had me thinking of comparisons from the Rhône (the Syrah in particular). One thing is sure, you can’t go wrong with any of these latest releases from Nicolas and Julia Krankl. In addition, I expect production to increase slightly here going forward, as they’ve been able to pick up a few additional parcels in top vineyards in Santa Barbara County." JD Aug 2023