Birichino Scylla 2022
A change in make-up for Scylla this year, with Carignan leading proceedings and MourvĂšdre in support. The Carignan (78%) is sourced from two century-old vineyardsâMontague and Mule Planeâlocated within 500 metres of each other in the Mokelumne River area of Lodi. The Montague siteâwith its big plump berries and bunchesâlends a juicy, crunchy and outgoing character to the more dense, dark, savoury and mineral profile of Mule Plane. Both sites give low yieldsâaveraging two tonnes per acre in Mule Plain and four in Montagueâand lie on the region's fine, sandy loam soils, though Mule Plain is closer to the river and has a higher rock content. The MourvĂšdre (22%) is from the Besson Vineyard in Santa Clara Valley in Santa Cruz, from very low-yielding vines grafted over from 1920s Marsanne using cuttings from Beaucastel. It âfills inâ the texture and body of the Carignan, according to winemaker Alex Krause.
The varieties spontaneously ferment separately. The Montague fruit (accounting for about half the blend) was destemmed, while the Mule Plain fruit had whole bunches and stalks layered throughout the ferment. The MourvĂšdre component fermented in a small bin. After 10 days with once-a-day punch-downs, the wines were pressed off and blended before maturation in neutral wood until the following summer (about eight months).
Comparing Birichinoâs two RhĂŽne-inspired blendsâRokurokubi & Inugami being the otherâwinemaker Alex Krause describes Scylla as the brighter, juicier, more immediately approachable wine.
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Description
A change in make-up for Scylla this year, with Carignan leading proceedings and MourvĂšdre in support. The Carignan (78%) is sourced from two century-old vineyardsâMontague and Mule Planeâlocated within 500 metres of each other in the Mokelumne River area of Lodi. The Montague siteâwith its big plump berries and bunchesâlends a juicy, crunchy and outgoing character to the more dense, dark, savoury and mineral profile of Mule Plane. Both sites give low yieldsâaveraging two tonnes per acre in Mule Plain and four in Montagueâand lie on the region's fine, sandy loam soils, though Mule Plain is closer to the river and has a higher rock content. The MourvĂšdre (22%) is from the Besson Vineyard in Santa Clara Valley in Santa Cruz, from very low-yielding vines grafted over from 1920s Marsanne using cuttings from Beaucastel. It âfills inâ the texture and body of the Carignan, according to winemaker Alex Krause.
The varieties spontaneously ferment separately. The Montague fruit (accounting for about half the blend) was destemmed, while the Mule Plain fruit had whole bunches and stalks layered throughout the ferment. The MourvĂšdre component fermented in a small bin. After 10 days with once-a-day punch-downs, the wines were pressed off and blended before maturation in neutral wood until the following summer (about eight months).
Comparing Birichinoâs two RhĂŽne-inspired blendsâRokurokubi & Inugami being the otherâwinemaker Alex Krause describes Scylla as the brighter, juicier, more immediately approachable wine.
