Horsepower Vineyards Fiddleneck Vineyard 2022 750ml

Product Info

100 points Owen Bargreen
"A wonderful foil to the ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Grenache, the 2022 ‘Fiddleneck Vineyard’ Grenache shows very different flavor and aromatic profiles — yet is clearly equal in overall quality. This Grenache was sourced from this stony site first planted back in 2015. Exuding class, this delivers a Chateau Rayas quality to this wine in terms of its purity of red fruits. The nose takes on hauntingly good range, offering pomegranate seed, kelp and blood orange zest tones alongside wet rock and hints of beef drippings. The aromatic range is mind-bending. The palate is liquid silk in its red fruit purity, showing dizzying underlying finesse and a generous mouthfeel. A total stunner, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next eight years to come." 

94pts Wine Spectator
"Detailed and expressive, offering sleekly complex flavors of raspberry and blueberry accented with tapenade, smoky meat and cracked pepper notes that finish with refined tannins. Drink now through 2032. 277 cases made." - Tim Fish

Terroir
Sourced from the Fiddleneck Vineyard in the Rocks District of Walla Walla Valley, this wine reflects one of the most distinctive terroirs in the New World. The vineyard is defined by its stony, basalt-laden soils—essentially fields of cobbles—which absorb and radiate heat, aiding ripening while maintaining a raw, mineral-driven identity. Tight vine spacing and biodynamic farming further enhance concentration and site expression, yielding fruit with both intensity and remarkable nuance.

Winemaking & Technical Notes
Crafted from 100% Grenache, the wine is fermented with a high percentage of whole clusters (often around 60–70%), contributing structure, aromatic lift, and savory complexity. Extraction is handled carefully to preserve finesse, followed by aging in neutral French oak for roughly 15 months to maintain purity of fruit and terroir transparency. Production is extremely limited, emphasizing a small-lot, artisanal approach.

Tasting Notes
Highly aromatic and complex, the 2022 opens with layers of pomegranate, wild strawberry, and blood orange zest alongside notes of white pepper, rose petal, and crushed stone. Savory elements—olive, spice, and subtle umami tones—add depth. The palate is silky yet concentrated, with vibrant acidity and fine-grained tannins supporting a core of red fruit. A pronounced mineral streak carries through to a long, energetic, and deeply expressive finish.

Food Pairing & Service
A versatile yet distinctive red, this Grenache pairs beautifully with roasted lamb, grilled pork, and dishes featuring Mediterranean herbs. It also complements game meats and savory preparations with earthy or umami-driven elements. Decant for one to two hours to allow its complex aromatics to fully unfold, and serve slightly below room temperature.

Cellaring Potential
Structured and age-worthy, this wine will evolve gracefully over the next 15–25 years. With time, its vibrant red fruit will give way to more savory, earthy, and spice-driven complexity, while maintaining its signature minerality and balance.