2019 Riise 'Doyen' Red Wine

Aromas of ripe blackberry, dark plum, cracked black pepper, and dried Mediterranean herbs lead into a seamless, medium-to-full-bodied palate. Flavors of black cherry and blueberry preserves mesh with hints of lavender, clove, and subtle tobacco leaf. The texture is broad and layered, anchored by fine-grained tannins and a long, peppery finish.

The blend is composed of 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 15% Mourvèdre. Hand-harvested grapes undergo fermentation in stainless steel and neutral vessels using gentle extraction techniques. Founded by Juan Mercado and crafted by winemaker Anthony Yount, the wine is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (50% new) before bottling without heavy manipulation.

Grapes are sourced from sustainably managed vineyard sites on the west side of Paso Robles, including the Paderewski, Catapult, Shadow Canyon, and Fulldraw plots. The vines grow in rocky, limestone-rich soils across steep hillside slopes. Significant daytime heat balanced by night cooling through the Templeton Gap allows the Rhône varieties to achieve full phenolic maturity while retaining balanced acidity.