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All right – listen up, we’ve got a new star on our hands. Could there be a nicer person in the wine business than Mikael Sigouin? His background is Hawaiian (Kaiser Hs Grad) thus the name and the label – bright Hawaiian tapestry. Specializing in Rhone varietals, specifically from three sites in the Ballard Canyon area (ground zero for Rhone grapes) --- Tierra Alta, Larner and Camp Four.  Mikael should be the ambassador for garage wine producers and for Grenache in particular as his few barrels stand mighty against all comers,... A little background:  He made a big move this past year, leaving Fess Parker and going back home to Steve Beckmen, as Beckmen’s winemaker.  As an employee of Fess Parker, Mikael looked like the antichrist for allowing fermentations to occur naturally and never adding enzymes or MLB in order to be as native as possible. Must be the Hawaiian in him? 
The wines are great because Mikael knows what great wine is.  We are thrilled to have him recently come over to JMD.  With Mikael’s insatiable love for Grenache and his ability to create these special small lot wines under the larger umbrella of Beckmen --- the future looks very bright, indeed! 

 
 
#79000 Grenache “Santa Ynez Valley” 2004 12/750   $300/Case $25/Bottle
Three sites: Tierra Alta, Camp Four and Larner Vineyards.  I found the wine to be surprisingly dark in color for a Grenache.   A bright, candied nose with attractive cocoa and vanilla notes.  Lush & volutuous, with a bit of that Grenache pepper and spice in the mouth.

 
#79009 Grenache Rosé 2006 12/750 $150.00/Case $12.50/Bottle
Should you need an introduction to Mikael Sigouin's (winemaker at Beckmen) wines, this rosé is the ticket. A cherry block and strawberry nose is inviting, while the typically grenache character of crunchy, snappy fruit comes through on the palate. Not just a quaffer, this rosé doesn't just lie there but shows some scintillating substance, as well.

 
#79005   Hapa “Santa Ynez Valley” 2004 12/750 $352.80/Case $29.40/Bottle
2/3 Grenache and 1/3 syrah --- a more serious wine than the “Hale”.... Mikael fittingly calls the wine “Hapa” which, as defined by Wikipedia, is an individual of mixed racial or ethnic heritage, especially someone of partial Native Hawaiian ancestry who is born in Hawaii. Used without qualification, it is often taken to mean “part Hawaiian and part white.” The wine is totally dominated by the mere third of Grenache with its sweet fruit, charcoal overtones, and burnt blueberries.  While the Grenache lingers the Syrah’s minerality, garnered from the calcareous slopes of this vineyard come together to create an intense finish. Reminds me of Beckmen’s Grenache-Syrah blend Purisima. This wine is close to Mikael’s heart as he is “Hapa” himself. 

 
#79004 Hale Red Wine “Paso Robles” 2004   12/750    $168.00/Case $14.00/Bottle
“Hale” means house in Hawaiian --- so make this your “Hale Wine!”  More fun with an attractive price.  His declassified syrah, made up of 60% Hearthstone Vineyard and 40% from a westside-Paso-site, next to Tablas Creek.  --- Some awesome juice!  Paso adds a brambly character --- gives it a spicy, meaty, ripe characteristic... 

 
#79010 Grenache Blanc 2006 12/750 $186/Case $15.50/Btl.
Not another Grenache Blanc! :)  A wine that’s made for Hawaii --- it's warm weather and and it's warm cuisine:  100% stainless, very crisp with a crunchy fresh fruit profile.  A little background: Although widely planted in France and Spain, Grenache Blanc is relatively rare in the United States, with fewer than 10 acres planted in Santa Ynez. The grapes are sourced from Camp 4 Vineyard, which is located in the warmer eastern edge of the Santa Ynez Valley.  

 
 
#79001 Grenache “Larner Vineyard” 2005 12/750 $334.20/Case $27.85/Btl.
A very special site in Ballard Canyon --- arguably “Ground Zero” for any Rhone varietal in California.  Meticulously managed, there’s 10 acres of grenache planted here.   The Larner clone (from Tablas Creek) of Grenache is a massive, dark and full bodied example of this varietal.  The nose is one of smoky, dried berries, wild flowers and tea leaf having dark purple hues seldom seen in any wine, let alone Grenache.  The body of this wine is round and elegant with dusty tannins from the front of the palate to the back with a sweet-sour component.

 
#79001 Grenache “Tierra Alta Vineyard” 2005 12/750 $297/Case $24.75/Btl.
A bright grenache --- focusing on it’s spicy-fruit characteristics. Whole cluster, 1/3 carbonic fermentation --- all native yeasts -- aged in 2-3 year old barrels. A ripe, fruity, spicy nose.  More texture and higher definition on the palate. 

 
#79007 Grenache “Santa Ynez Valley” 2005 12/750 $225/Case $18.75/Btl.
Three sites: Tierra Alta, Camp Four and Larner Vineyards.  I found the wine to be surprisingly dark in color for a Grenache.   A bright, candied nose with attractive cocoa and vanilla notes.  Lush & volutuous, with a bit of that Grenache pepper and spice in the mouth.

 
#79006 Syrah “Santa Ynez Valley” 2004 12/750 $240/Case $20/Bottle Incredible, handcrafted Syrah --- Mikael nailed it in 2004!. This small lot ( 75 case ) Syrah represents one of the best fruit sources in the Santa Ynez Valley... Dark, purple --- great nose!  From two sites: 1/2 Camp Four (warmer site) and 1/2 Tierra Alta (clay & limestone).  Mineral, complex, big & deep --- “greatest wine I ever made.”  92 Points

 

 
Aloha,
Alan

 

Last modified: 11/29/07