2019 Walson Holland Mélange Rouge
My goal with the Mélange Rouge is to make the best wine possible with the wide array of grape varieties and vineyard sources used to craft this blend. While the components of this wine change from vintage to vintage, the thought process remains the same. It is so fascinating to bring in grapes from very different climatic regions and see how contrasting the same varieties can be grown in different areas. For instance, by using Syrah and Grenache vineyards in cool climate regions we see the more herbaceous, savory characteristics of these varieties, the warmer climate vineyards produce the rich black fruit of Syrah and the classic bright red fruit of Grenache. By blending these same but very different components, my idea is to get the best of both worlds. I love the process of blending and crafting this wine each year, using the contrasting nuances and striking similarities of each variety to make the best wine we see possible year in and year out.
—Benjamin Holland, Walson Holland winemaker