2022 Willy
In Stock
Wine Specs
Vintage
2022
Varietal
Blend - red
Appellation
Willcox
Harvest Date
August and September
Acid
5.6 g/L
pH
3.92
Aging
Aged 5 months in 6% 1-yr-old French, 6% 2-yr-old Hungarian, 6% 3-yr-old French and 82% neutral oak barrels. Aged another 6 months in 7% 1-yr-old French, 7% 1-yr-old Eastern European, 7% 2-yr-old Hungarian, 7% 3-yr-old French & 72% neutral oak barrels.
Alcohol %
14.5
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
Willy is one of the first blends we ever dreamed up at Chateau Tumbleweed (way back in 2012!) and it’s still one of our favorite wines to make every year. Around the time we first concocted this blend, we had begun looking at Grenache as the “Pinot Noir” of Arizona. Both grapes are lighter bodied and lower in tannin. And they both have a velvety texture, pure red fruit and a touch of spice. Grenache can just handle the AZ heat and monsoon rains a little better. This blend is an homage to the Pinot Noirs of Oregon and is also a great example of our approach to blending. By harmonizing the elegant red fruit, spice and silky femininity of AZ Grenache with the more powerful characters of Syrah and Tempranillo, we try, as best we can, to show our reverence to the wines that have had so much influence on a couple of us Tumbleweeds. Only 15 barrels produced.
Vineyard Notes
Willcox AVA – Arizona - 33% Grenache from Dos Amigos Vineyard. Cochise County, AZ. 4,300 ft. elevation. Harvested Sept. 21st - 11% Grenache from Cimarron Vineyard. Cochise County, AZ. 4,300 ft. elevation. Harvested Sept. 11th - 11% Grenache from Rhumb Line Vineyard. Cochise County, AZ. 4,300 ft. elevation. Harvested Sept. 8th - 11% Syrah from Cimarron Vineyard. Cochise County, AZ. 4,300 ft. elevation. Harvested Sept. 6th - 6% Syrah from Dos Amigos Vineyard. Cochise County, AZ. 4,300 ft. elevation. Harvested Sept. 11th - 6% Syrah from Sierra Bonita Vineyard. Graham County, AZ. 4,400 ft. elevation. Harvested Sept. 21st - 11% Tempranillo from Cimarron Vineyard. Cochise County, AZ. 4,300 ft. elev. Harvested Aug. 27th - 11% Tempranillo from Dos Amigos Vineyard. Cochise County, AZ. 4,300 ft. elev. Harvested Aug. 31st - Sugar at harvest: 24.8 Brix average
Production Notes
Destemmed but not crushed to open-top, ¾- and 1.5-ton bins. Lots were left an average of ~25% whole-cluster. Inoculated with specially selected yeasts (D254, Clos, T73, MT, D80, GRE, V1116, RC212, Rhone 2226, Ionys WF & UV43). Hand-punched 3-4 times daily. Inoculated with Malolactic bacteria (Omega) around 3 Brix average. Pressed at dryness after 10 days average skin contact. Settled 2 days average before barreling.
Production
360 cases
Other Notes
Drink now or cellar 5+ years