2023 SOuL, The Wayward Son

100% Carignan
MAHA Estate
There’s always room for a bit of experimentation with a new vintage. But how can we improve without constantly chasing perfection? In this particular case, we took MAHA Carignan and utilized a combination of Carbonic maceration and traditional maceration to see what would happen. It’s not about striving for perfection, but about exploring new possibilities.
When we first moved to Paso, we met the Smith family. At the time, a newly wed Heather and Justin introduced us to Justin’s parents, Terry and Pebble. Pebble had been making wine from James Berry Vineyard for years, believing that to truly understand the potential of the site, he needed to make wine from the grapes he grew there. He has always been on the forefront of viticulture and enology, and, to this day, has crafted some of the best wines I’ve had from our region.
About 10 years ago, Pebble brought a stunning garnet-red wine to Justin’s birthday party. I asked what it was, and he simply replied, “Carignan.” Curious, I asked how he made it, and he said, “with intent.” It took me a few more years of gentle probing to get him to share his process. Eventually, he revealed that he fermented it carbonically for a couple of weeks, then destemmed it to finish fermentation on skins. That had us scratching our heads a bit, but the wine was so delicious that in 2023 we decided to give it a go. With that said, we present to you 2023 SOuL, The Wayward Son.
Aged for 14 months in a neutral puncheon, this wine boasts a vibrant crimson hue, leading with fresh red fruits, rose petals, and a hint of orange zest. The palate is seamless and elegant, unfolding with layers of strawberry rhubarb crisp, white pepper, and nori. Fine, supple tannins create a long finish that goes for days. This is one that will be tough to cellar, but if you can resist, hiding a few bottles away will reward you with a beautiful, ethereal wine. Drink 2025-2035