Pick Up Sticks is a New World aromatic red wine which is bold, spicy, and meant to be consumed for the Simple Joy of It. Having served as Lee’s personal house wine for the past 10 years, the wine has been fine tuned and is ready for its public debut. A blend of five varieties makes this wine both incredibly luscious and exciting to drink. Grenache, the Pinot Noir of the South of France, adds aromatics and silky texture. Syrah is added for its spice, strength and broad mid-palette, Petite Sirah contributes a Bass note, with Barbera included for its charm and lively acidity. Lastly, Viognier contributes its floral bouquet and fine tannins. Open and serve for the Simple Joy of It!
When the grapes taste so delicious coming off the vine, that you question even allowing them to BECOME wine, you know that you’re in for an exciting winemaking ride. This is the fun stuff. On crushing day the winery smells like a cornucopia of fruits and flowers. We pick our unique blend of fruit, comprised of 42% Syrah, 24% Grenache, 18% Barbera, 12% Petite Sirah, and 4% Viogner, in small bins. The fruit is then de-stemmed and approximately 75% of the clusters are crushed. Fermentation occurs with each grape’s natural yeast, in small fermentors or open top barrels. The Syrah ferments in isolation and the Barbera and Grenache fermented individually but with 20% whole clusters Syrah, for added structure and to protect their fragile aromatics. The Petite Sirah and Viogner are fermented together as the Viogner skins are able to add fine tannins that help soften the grippy Petite Sirah, while adding a floral aromatic and undertone of apricots. After fermentation the wines are aged on their primary lees in French oak using new barrels for the Syrah and Petite Sirah, and older barrels for the Grenache and Barbera. They spent 13 months in barrel before blending and an additional 5 months before bottling in the spring of 2010.
Seductive nose of ripe cherry, roasted nut, and savory herbs…like fresh rosemary, and thyme. Vibrant texture, medium mouthfeel with subtle yet lingering tannins that make you beg for a second taste. Perfectly ripe red fruit (morello cherry and raspbery) allayed with earth and leather notes that make it much more than most California wines. This wine would be delicious with braised rabbit.