HISTORY

Planted in 1885, this Cinsault vineyard is certainly the oldest of its kind in the United States, and perhaps even the oldest Cinsault in the world! A light-bodied red grape, Cinsault (pronounced SAHN-so) is usually found in the south of France as a component of Châteauneuf- du-Pape in the Rhône Valley, or consumed as rosé in Provence. The Bechthold Vineyard vines are gnarly, head-trained, and dry-farmed in deep, sandy soils. They’re also ungrafted, meaning they remain on their original vitis vinifera roots that were first planted 136 years ago, a phenomenon nearly impossible to replicate today. The wine is light- bodied with fresh, high acidity, almost akin to a Gamay or a very light Pinot Noir. It’s fermented using only natural yeasts and aged in 100% used French oak.

VINTAGE SPECIFIC TASTING NOTES

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DETAILS

• AVA: Lodi

• Sub-AVA: Mokolumne River

• Soil: Sandy Loam

• Planted: 1886

• Varieties: Cinsault

• Viticulture: Head-trained, dry-farmed, hand harvested

• Fermentation: Native yeast

• Barrels: 100% used French oak

• Aging: 7 months in barrel

• Bottled unfined

• First Turley Vintage: 2008

• Serving Temp: 50-55ºF

• Release: Summer

• Accessibility: Limited, Member exclusive