Terre Rouge, L'Autre 2013, Sierra Foothills, Sierra Nevada, CA

This full-flavored southern Rhône style blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre has notes of wild raspberries, rosemary, smoke, and firm tannins on the finish. It’s luscious, elegant, silky, and complex.

COUNTRY: USA

STATE: CA

APPELLATION (AVA): Sierra Foothills

REGION: Northern California

VINEYARDS: Blend

VINTAGE: 2013

GRAPES:  72% Grenache, 19% Syrah, 9% Mourvèdre

SOIL: Decomposed granite (Grenache)

PRACTICE: Sustainable, organic

VINIFICATION:

STYLE: Still

COLOR: Deep ruby, garnet point

BODY: Medium to Full (7-8)

TASTE: Dry

PRIMARY AROMAS: Plum, black cherry, wild game, smoke, rosemary

FLAVOR: Full flavor similar to nose, medium acid, firm tannins, long finish

FORMAT: 750 ml

ALCOHOL: 14.5%

SERVICE AND SUGGESTION: This is quite a versatile food pairing wine that works particularly well with dishes featuring Mediterranean spices including red pepper, sage, rosemary, and olives.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: 
Winemaker Bill Easton is one of the original Rhône Rangers and pioneered the Rhône varietals in the Sierra Foothills in the late 80s. His wines are balanced and elegant, with complexity that develops as the wines age in bottle. The French call it élevage, which is "raising" the wine in the bottle before drinking. There is an art to this style of winemaking and there is great pleasure in drinking a wine that has just started to show what it will be.

Terre Rouge and Easton Wines was founded in the late 80’s by Bill Easton and Jane O’Riordan. Winemaker Bill Easton is one of the original Rhône Rangers and pioneered the Rhône varietals in the Sierra Foothills under the TERRE ROUGE label. The EASTON portfolio includes Amador County favorites like old vine zinfandel and barbera. Our wines are balanced and elegant, with complexity that develops as the wines age in bottle. The French call it élevage, which is "raising" the wine in the bottle. There is an art to this style of winemaking and great pleasure in a wine that is ready to drink, while still showing great promise for future aging.

ABOUT THE VINEYARDS: 
L’Autre means “the other one”. This is now our top Rhône varietal blend. It has replaced Noir, a wine that was based on an old-vine Placer County Grenache site that met its demise in 2002. The Grenache for L’Autre is better clonal material grown in what we consider to be a better location. The Duarte-Georgetown Vineyard is located at 2,500 feet near the town of the same name. Its Boomer series red, decomposed granite soils are what Grenache likes to grow in and the budwood is from Chateau Rayas, Beaucastel, and Remelluri in Rioja. The Mourvèdre is from two sites: one in Placer County and one in El Dorado County. The Syrah is from the Monarch Mine Vineyard, on a South-facing ridge to the North of the Georgetown Divide. This 2013 is very elegant, complex, and lively. Grenache’s savory plum and black cherry flavors, coupled with Mourvèdre’s smoky gaminess, and Syrah’s powerful punch and richness. This is a dead ringer for a top Southern Rhône,; say a Châteauneuf-du-Pape or Gigondas.