A Tribute To Grace 'Hofer Vineyard' Grenache 2022

Southern California's Cucamonga Valley, a somewhat forgotten viticultural area, has some of the oldest vineyards in the state, including Hofer Vineyard, where Angela sources fruit from extremely tall, 100-year-old head trained vines. The vineyard is surrounded by ancient pink peppercorn and eucalyptus trees, and has never seen any chemicals. I was fortunate to taste the 2014, Angela's first vintage from this vineyard, a few years back and went on to purchase the majority of the cases that came to New York for the restaurant group I worked for in subsequent vintages.  Hofer is different from any of the other single-vineyard wines that Angela makes, in that it is bottled and released younger than any of its siblings. It also tends to be the lightest in color. A bright, gregarious nose of cranberry and eucalyptus is met by abundant freshness, rose water, grapefruit zest, and juicy strawberry, with a menthol finish. Great with a chill. Kirk Sutherland