Nose
The nose presents the same dried red currents, strawberry sweetness, and juicy fig that we’re more than familiar with from this wine. Accompanying the familiar is an overt expression of slate, cedar bark, and olive tapenade that adds layers of unfamiliarity and complexity, and a citrusy orange note grounds the nose with a bright acidity.
Palate
The entry is soft and fresh, as are the edges, with gushing pomegranate and cherry pit while the core is full of chalky and tactile tannin that promotes dried wild berry, black pepper, and worn leather notes. It finishes bright and acidic with a continuity of stony slate that provides both structure and flavor. Moreover, a wine chock-full of approachable flattery for those who appreciate a lighter body, but layered with an atypical earthy and leathered undertone that provides a meaningful distinction of vintage.
Harvest
All components of the blend were harvested between October 24th and November 7th, 2018
Bottling
Bottled in the Winter of 2020.
Winemaking
Macerated on skins between 15-20 days, the Grenache of the 2018 Mad Crush was fermented whole berry and underwent 4 days of cold soak before fermentation began. Once fermenting they received two gentle pumpovers a day until dryness. The Tempranillo and other components were crushed prior to fermentation, but also received a short cold soak followed by two gentle pumpovers per day until dryness.
Aging
17 months in 500L French oak puncheons, 15% of which was new. Racked post malolactic fermentation, and blended and returned to barrel in July of 2019. Bottled in the Winter of 2020.