Steve Edmunds is one of the original California Rhône Rangers, but he’s also a lover of grape varieties and wines from south of the France-Spain border. 'El Jaléo' is his homage to the wines and flamenco fiestas of Spain, reflected through the terroir of the SIerra Foothills. It’s 31% monastrell/mourvèdre, 29% garnacha/grenache, 26% graciano, and 14% tempranillo, all from Ann Kraemer’s Shake Ridge Ranch vineyard in Amador County. Shake Ridge Ranch has become one of the go-to vineyards for producers looking for great fruit from the Sierra Foothills. (Steve Edmunds describes Ann Kraemer as farming with the devotion of a monk.)
Spontaneous fermentation happened in half-ton bins, after which the wine spent several months in 17 year-old French oak barrels and several more months in stainless steel tanks before bottling. All of the rest is bottle age. This is bold, peppery, a little herbal, and a little wild, with voluptuous tannins and great length. Drink it in a Bordeaux glass with hearty fare, such as the Aragonese stew chilindrón. It will age gracefully for a bunch of years, if you’re so inclined.
