Sans Liege The Offering 2016

#20 in the Wine Spectator Top 100 for 2019

Wine Spectator (2/6/2019)
Distinctive, refined and well-built, offering expressive black cherry, cigar box, green olive and cured meat accents that build richness on the long finish. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Viognier. Drink now through 2026. Rated 94

Frank´s Picks:
The Sans Liege 2017 “The Offering” (a blend of of 45% Grenache, 33% Syrah, 21% Mourvedre, and 1% Viognier) is a wine that captures the imagination and challenges expectations, it displays a beautiful purity and depth that is reminiscent of having a summer picnic in an ancient church. Resinous scents of black cherry cola, frankincense, fresh-peeled Clementine orange and vanilla extract lead to a well-structured and balanced palate of curried mix-berry cobbler, turmeric, dark chocolate cocoa nibs and black pepper with rocky, persistent tannins.

"More dream than plan, The Offering began with days spent in the vines, late nights in the cellar, and thoughts on redemption. My prized cuvee from ten hand-picked sites, The Offering opens a window into my mutual respect for time-honored practices and fixation with whatever lies around the bend."

Statt des Versuchs einer Beschreibung gibt Curt den Weinen lieber poetisch geschilderte Situationen, assoziative Zitate oder ähnlich Geheimnisvolles mit auf den Weg. Zu The Offering schreibt er:

"When you arrive the celebration is raging, much like the huge bonfire in the center of the crowd. You are met with scents of anise, mulling spices, kirsch and leather. A friend claps you on the back and hands you a bowl crafted from juniper proclaiming “wassail!” “Drink hail” you chorus with the rest of the group, taking a gulp and passing it on. Treats of olive tapenade and plums with cinnamon are shared as the merriment continues into the night."

Grape Varietie(s): 48% Grenache, 32% Syrah, 19% Mourvedre, 1% Viognier

Barrique?
22 months in French oak: 20% new puncheons,17% neutral Puncheons, 5% new barriques, 25% second fill barriques & 33% neutral barriques.

Winemaker´s comments:
Open top fermentors containing between 20-30% whole cluster fruit. Given punchdowns, pumpovers and love as needed.  

Food:
Pairs well with dishes featuring Mediterranean spices including red pepper, sage, rosemary, and olives.

VINEYARDS

"When choosing vineyards to source fruit from, I favor character over notoriety. Each of these sites have a distinctive appeal that separates them from the rest, and very often my sources are locations passed over by other winemakers. In taking up my own journey, I've learned to not discount any field for its quirks and eccentricities, however, for in diversity lies the promise of uncommon opportunity. This is the heart of Sans Liege.

The Central Coast is home to a wide variety of climates, soils and topographies, so I keep my boundaries wide open. Though these appellations are each highly-regarded for their production of Rhone varietals, I've found that fruit from my vineyard blocks speak foremost of their individual provenance, a very real story of place, rather than as textbook examples of Mediterranean France. These fields provide the raw fuel for my creative work and I attempt to channel them into exemplary wines, made complete by the union of their disparate strengths." (Curt Schachlin)

Alta Mesa Vineyard
Appellation: Santa Barbara County
Notes: Located in eastern Santa Barbara County in the Cuyama Valley, Alta Mesa Vineyard sits perched above Barnwood Vineyards at 3200 feet in elevation. As the crow flies, Alta Mesa is approximately 30 miles over the hills from Santa Barbara. The soils consist of decomposed granite and clay loam with large rocks of schist, quartzite, basalt, and gneiss. There is a massive swing of daily temperatures that benefit the long growing season, most often a 40 -50°F difference between day and night. The site is a favorite of legendary producers like Sine Qua Non, The Ojai Vineyard and Qupé.

Derby Westside Vineyard
Appellation: Templeton Gap (Paso Robles)
Notes: This vineyard was originally planted to 34 acres of Rhone varietals in 1998. In the Templeton Gap, along the famed Highway 46 West corridor in Paso Robles, Derby Westside enjoys warm, dry days followed by cooling off-shore breezes beginning in the mid-afternoon. The soil is predominantly Nacimiento series, consisting of moderately deep, well-drained soils that formed in material weathered from calcareous shale and sandstone.

Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyards
Appellation: Santa Barbara County
Notes: This site is a pioneering effort in the development of high elevation vineyards in Santa Barbara County. At 3,200 feet above sea-level, the vineyards are planted in well-drained soils that are particularly well-suited to viticulture, and consist primarily of fine, sandy loam. The Cuyama Valley climate has consistently warm days with gentle breezes created by continental air masses late in the afternoon, and cold nights due to weak down-valley breezes. With a temperature that can vary as much as 50 degrees in one day, the climate is particularly well suited to Bordeaux and Rhone varietals.

Larner Vineyard
Appellation: Santa Ynez Valley
Notes: The Larner Vineyard is acknowledged as one of the top vineyards on the Central Coast, and one of the best vineyards for Rhone varietal growth in America. UC Davis graduate Michael Larner farms the property with his family, and since 2001, they have contributed fruit to various point-score grabbing efforts from multiple winemakers. Located in the western-most reaches of the AVA, Larner is one of the coldest and most heavily marine-influenced properties in Santa Ynez Valley, and features a diverse soil series of decomposed granite, gneiss, schist, basalt and clay loam. Canopies are adjusted in several hand-passes throughout the growing season to promote very low yields of intensely concentrated fruit. Elevations reach 3,200 feet above sea level and clones are carefully selected to meet the profiles of the various blocks at the property. A telling detail of Larner, perhaps, is that Robert Parker loves wines produced from its fruit so much, he thinks the vineyard “would merit Grand Cru status in France.”

Whitehawk Vineyard
Appellation: Santa Barbara County
The White Hawk Vineyard is planted on ancient sand dunes between 900 and 1000 feet in elevation on the south facing slope of Cat Canyon, a side of the Los Alamos Valley in Santa Barbara County. It's 21 miles west of the Pacific and 2 miles north of Los Alamos. This region is recognized as a top producing wine region. Fog often embraces the small vineyard in the morning before gentle afternoon breezes chase it away to allow the sun's rays to slowly ripen the fruit.

Laetitia “Les Galets” Vineyard
Appellation: Arroyo Grande Valley
Notes: Located only 4 miles from the Pacific Ocean, in one of the coolest climates of any wine growing region in the state, Les Galets is a truly unique location for California Syrah production. South-facing hillside blocks of calcareous and volcanic soils offer high drainage, while the constant marine influence, cold nights and warm afternoons, combine to promote Syrah that is low-cropped, spicy, intense in dark fruit, yet graceful and structured in acidity. The majority of plantings around the Syrah blocks at the site are to Pinot Noir, which should give some indication of the extremity of cool-climate, humid influence at the vineyard. Very few winemakers have access to the sparse plantings of Syrah from Les Galets, and I feel fortunate to count myself as one.

Alta Colina Vineyard
Appelation: Templeton Gap (Paso Robles)
Notes: Owned and farmed by the Tillman Family, Alta Colina is a unique, high-elevation site in the Templeton Gap that spans from 1600 - 1780 feet above sea level. Planted mostly to a suite of Rhone varietals, the site is composed of predominantly calcareous and loam-based soils that are high in drainage, encouraging vine vigor. The property is farmed with minimal inference, typically seeing only 4 passes each vintage for shoot thinning, canopy adjustments and fertilization. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean sees cool morning and afternoon fog on the property, that helps facilitate a long growing season, ideal for the ripening of fruit.

John Sebastiano Vineyard
Appellation: Santa Rita Hills
Owned by: John Wagner & Sebastiano Sterpa
John Sebastiano is a newer vineyard on the eastern side of Sta. Rita Hills with a variety of microclimates. The relatively windy location limits yields resulting in concentrated flavors.

Zotovich Vineyard
Appellation: Santa Rita Hills
Located in the heart of Sta. Rita Hills off Highway 246 on a very gentle, even slope with northern exposure, this vineyard is capable of making extraordinary wine. Originally established by a different set of owners, this vineyard is going through a revival under the new ownership of the Zotovich family to achieve its intended greatness.