Savory Grape Releases Private Label Wine

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Steffen Rasch, GoLocalProv Wine Critic

Last year, Savory Grape owners Jessica and Nino Granatiero traveled to California with an idea in mind – they wanted to create a private label wine. After days of searching (and sampling) they finally met with winemaker Bill Easton of Easton and Terre Rouge Vineyards – one of Sierra Foothills' best producers. In his cellar sat two barrels worth of Syrah from the ’04 and ’05 vintage.  After Jessica and Nino tasted the wine they fell in love with it and knew they had to get their name in it. And so, “The Savory Grape Cuvée” was born.

The Region: The Sierra Foothills wine region, stretching from Yuba County in the north to Mariposa County in the south – just east of Sacramento - is one of California’s earliest wine producing areas. People have been growing grapes and making wine in the Sierra Foothills since the mid 1800’s when European immigrants flocked to the region in search of fortune during the gold rush.

The Winery: Winemaker Bill Easton makes over 20 different wines, mostly small productions, in his winery located on the West Slope of the Sierra Nevada in Amador County's Shenandoah Valley. His wines are spread over two brands; the portfolio of wines made under the Terre Rouge label are made from Rhone varietals, such as Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre for reds and Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne for whites; all sourced from sustainably farmed vineyards located throughout the appellation.

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The Wines: Both the 2004 and 2005 Savory Grape Cuvées are 100% Syrah sourced from the same vineyards. Despite being made the exact same way, both having spent 20 months in 33% new oak, they taste very different. The reason for this is because the climates during the grape growing season were very different. The ’04 season was marked by spring frost, lower yields and earlier than usual ripening, while the ’05 season experienced a cool summer and later than usual ripening. As a result of these conditions, the ’04 has a much more defined structure, tannins and savory flavors, while the ’05 is softer, more fruit forward and easy-drinking. Both are full-bodied and densely concentrated wines that require at least 2 hours of aeration. At $65 per bottle, these top-notch, age-worthy Cuvées are great special occasion wines. Cheers!

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