Description
Erggelet Brothers, Carignane
Julian and Sebastian Erggelet grew up in southern Germany, “sipping leftover Riesling out of Grandfather Erggelet’s goblet as kids.” They originally pursued different career paths but gravitated towards wine: Sebastian went back to school to study viticulture and enology and the brothers eventually worked harvests and did winery stages in France, Switzerland, Australia and Spain. They moved to California in 2014 and did stints at wineries included Ovid and Martin Estate before venturing out on their own in 2015.
Heirloom vineyards in Contra Costa County (including one farmed by Julian’s wife’s family) are the singular focus of the Erggelet brothers, who are laser-focused on organic cultivation. The Carignane for this bottling hails from the Del Barba Vineyard in Oakley, a site that’s been farmed by the same family since the early 1900s. The vines are very old and mostly bush-trained, plunging their roots into deep, well-drained Delhi sand. It’s a hot, dry site with an almost beach-like appearance between rows.
Despite the hot, dry climate, the Erggelet style is characterized by energy and aromatic lift over inky concentration/high alcohol. The Carignane was harvested in early September 2018 and fermented on native yeasts over 19 days. It was aged in neutral Bordeaux barrels for eight months, and later bottled unfined and unfiltered. Compared to most California Carignane you are likely to encounter, this one is a brighter, more fruit-driven style without heavy extract.
In the glass, the wine is a saturated ruby-purple, with aromas of black and red fruits such as blackberry, plum, and cherry, layered with scents of lilac, lavender, dark chocolate, herbs, and dusty earth. Medium-plus in body, with lots of freshness lending juicy, tangy crunch. It is a gutsy, wild-berry kind of style with no perceptible oak influence. Pair with kabobs or other grilled meats/vegetables.
