Byron Blatty Tremor 2017
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The 2017 Tremor is Byron Blatty's second vintage of this incredibly complex and layered cuvée from three different Los Angeles vineyards.
Blend: 65% Grenache, 30% Merlot, and 5% Syrah, aged 18 months in French oak.
Mark and Jenny founded Byron Blatty Wines in 2014, after a visit to Napa Valley. Inspired by the story of Napa’s original vintners, who challenged the French with their determination to create world-class wines in a previously unproven region, the Blattys had only one rule that would guide them on their endeavor to start a commercial winery: The wines had to be from their hometown of Los Angeles.
Before Napa and Sonoma became synonymous with wine country, Los Angeles was the center of California’s wine trade. But by the early 1930s, the impact of the Gold Rush, an outbreak of Pierce's disease, and the scourge of Prohibition had nearly wiped out LA’s vineyards, which were converted to citrus groves, replanted to other crops, or cleared for urban development.
In the decades since, a mere few vineyards have been planted, by those who know that Los Angeles is still capable of producing world-class wines. Each of these sites is unique in its altitude, soil type, and overall climate, yet common among them is the magnificent sunshine that graces the region year round. If terroir is a sense of place and the expression of its character, Los Angeles has never been expressed this way before…
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.