2022 - Big Valley Bombo - Light Red

Grenache & Skin Contact Semillon 

Swan Valley 

Zero additions

The big rooter returns, back more closely resembling its original guise. Our biggest volume blend by far this year, pieced together from various components of Grenache and, as always, a hint of skin contact Semillon for the crunch and texture, to create the ultimate summer libation. 

Of the Grenache components, the most notable is 1000lt of Qvevri fermented and aged wine made from the third and final pick of the season on February 13th. Picked early due to searing heart and then crushed to Qvevri and gently macerated on skins for 8 days before pressing back to clay vessel for élevage. Ordained initially as Chateau da Swan, upon tasting in July it was determined too lissom a wine for that cuvee, showing all of the trademark prettiness and lift, without the characteristic power. As a blending component, however, it worked remarkably well - particularly when combined with 850lt of carbonically macerated Grenache. Comprised 120 crates picked January 30th, sealed up in two stainless VCs purged of oxygen and allowed to enzymatically ferment for 8 days before pressing back to tank. At this point it tasted like the chalkiest strawberry lemonade, just ludicrously refreshing. The tank was then locked up for 7 months prior to blending. Add to that 850lt of Grenache raised in stainless, a blend of the two separate picks on February 6th and 13th, fermented in both Nally and Qvevri, for some sublime and attractive red berry characters.

The Semillon, of course, with some skin contact. The 450lt this year (15%) representing the largest proportion blended into the Bombo since its inception. The same batch as was used in the Bianco, on skins for 8 days, it looked a touch phenolic and green on its own (and thus was declassified from Turbulent Juice). The joy of blending, however, revealed just how positive an effect it had on the Bombo, bringing its idiosyncratic citrus crunch, piercing acid and texture pushing the blend toward legitimate smashability.

The blend racked together late August, bottled a week later on August 28th with absolutely no additions.