2015 LEDGE Rolph Family Vineyard

John & Elizabeth Rolph’s vineyard is out in the Adelaida District, about eight miles away from the Ledge HQ. They’re hands-on grape farmers, and their now-30 acre vineyard produces some extremely high quality fruit. They also raise bees and chickens, grow olives and other fruit and vegetables. They’ve got horses too. The wine we produce from their fruit is made from Grenache (70%) co-fermented with Syrah (30%), with half destemmed and the rest going through fermentation whole-cluster. It’s aged in once-used 400 liter puncheons for 22 months before bottling, and as Jeb Dunnuck put it, “ it’s elegant, yet concentrated” and it “has fine tannin and a great finish.” And he said that last year, before it’d even been bottled! We’re really pleased with the way it’s turned out, a vinous representation of our appreciation of the effort put into the farming by the Rolphs. 

JEB DUNNUCK:

The 2015 Rolph Vineyard (70% Grenache and 30% Syrah) comes from a site in the more northern Adelaida district and was brought up mostly in neutral barrels. It’s another seamless, perfectly balanced wine from this estate and offers impressive notes of spiced cherries, strawberries, dried flowers, and incense. With ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish, drink this beautiful red any time over the coming 7-8 years. 95pts

VINOUS:

 A complex, expansive bouquet displays fresh dark berry, cherry liqueur, incense and candied violet qualities, and a smoky Indian spice note builds in the glass. Impressively concentrated yet energetic and precise, offering intense black raspberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors supported by a spine of juicy acidity. Clings with excellent tenacity on a youthfully tannic, floral-dominated finish that leaves behind floral pastille and star anise notes. Josh Raynolds, 94pts