The 2022 Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard contains a lower percentage of Grenache this year, due to the high proportion of Mataro added during fermentation to balance the high sugar and high acid profile of Grenache in this harvest. It opens with a lush, red-fruited nose, complemented by dried flower, wet clay and lavender aromas, followed by a full-bodied, concentrated and punchy profile that characterizes this bottling, while retaining remarkable lift and dexterity. The finish is lively and impressively refined, cascading with layers of vibrant acidity, slowly swelling tannins and retronasal perfume. Despite the unmistakable power contained here, I find this to be an uncommonly elegant expression of the 2022 vintage. Composed of 54% Grenache, 38% Mataro, 4% Syrah and 4% Counoise, it matured for 32 months in 73% new 300-liter barrels with 22% stem inclusion. (ML)

This abundantly floral red opens with notes of geranium and heliotrope that set the stage for the elegant and silky entry, juxtaposed against a concentrated core of cherry and blueberry, plus a hint of cassis. There’s a measure of vibrancy on the back end, laced with tea leaf accents that gather around fresh tannins. Grenache, Mataro, Syrah and Counoise. (AR)