UpsideDown Cluster F@*#!! Grenache 2020

UpsideDown Cluster F@*#!! Grenache 2020

Grapes: Grenache 100%

ABV: 13.9%

Region: Equus Vineyard, Washington State

Winemaker: Seth and Audrey Kiztke

Viniculture: Sustainably grown Grenache

Winemaking: Wild yeast fermentation, whole-cluster carbonic maceration, aging in neutral vessels, no sulfur additions save for a small amount at bottling

“gunpowder, macerated bright strawberries and floral tones”

I’ve been waiting for a chance to use wines from UpsideDown in one of our boxes. There’s few people in Washington state that are legitimately committed to making raw wines with no coloring, chemical adjustment or other overt manipulations. Seth and Audrey Kitzke are two winemakers who are showing just how brilliant WA state fruit can be when it’s treated with extra special care.

This Cluster F@*! Grenache proves that we should be planting more of this grape in Washington. We have a hot climate here and this grape loves heat. This is from the Equus vineyard, a super-high altitude spot north of the Yakima Valley, where hot days alternate with cool nights and produce grapes with deep color and bright acidity.

This wine is fermented with partial carbonic whole-cluster fermentation, which means many of the berries aren’t even crushed before fermentation. This produces a wine with a very bright color and incredibly expressive aromas. Carbonic fermentation gives off bright, candied notes and savory flavors, which is why it works particularly well with the Grenache grape.

In the glass this wine is fuschia, and leads with aromas of crushed raspberries, chocolate mint and redcurrant syrup. Savory herbs like thyme and rosemary come on the finish, with smoke, toasted black peppercorn and dried jasmine. In the words of winemaker Seth Kitzke, “gunpowder, macerated bright strawberries and floral tones.”