Each release has a unique theme or name, starting with Un Petit Debut in 2018. To pay homage to those (predominantly French) mentors who gave Alex an opportunity to learn and work beside them in his early years, the names of each release will be in French. The final product will always be influenced by life and nature’s curveballs. This results in no wine being directly reproducible year upon year, and accordingly, should be respected as is own creation.

For 2022, we are pleased to provide you an opportunity to acquire the ALLBAER Escarpe.

Escarpe [adjective] rising with a sudden, rather than a gradual slope. It describes a steep, yet well-worn path which is often dangerous, but conquerable by those who persevere. This very much signifies 2022 as a growing season in California.

2022 ALLBAER Escarpe Grenache

The differences farming styles can make in Grenache are incredible and Alex uses techniques both novel and used for hundreds of years by experts in France. As an example, Block 11 grenache is planted each vine to a stake, head-trained, with a smaller goblet. Because it’s not a traditional large goblet, fruit is thinned 40-60% early on while the clusters are green. Imagine Cote Rotie. This drastically affects yields, but the crop is fantastic because the vine isn’t as stressed trying to pull a full crop load to phenolic maturation. The 2022 is the first ALLBAER to include fruit from the highly coveted Copia Grenache estate vineyard.

“I loved the 2022 Grenache Escarpe, a perfumed, expressive, exotic beauty that has tons of ripe red fruits, flowery incense, spice, and sappy herbes de Provence-like nuances. With medium to full body, a layered, balanced mouthfeel, and sweet tannins, it’s a gem to enjoy through 2032.”

95 Points – Jeb Dunnuck, Aug. 2024

2022 ALLBAER Escarpe Sangiovese

Sangiovese is one of our favourite grape varietals. Most of us know this grape from top-tier Brunello or the best wines from Tuscany. It is less common to see sangio from California but what a beauty this wine has come to be. In 2022, ALLBAER continued their program of splitting the parcel in two picks. The first offers tight tannins, lower alcohol, and fresher aromatics, and the inclusion of fifty percent whole cluster. The second pick carries slightly more alcohol, less acidity, and no whole cluster to preserve the purity of the Sangiovese aromatics. Both lots were aged in large-format vessels. This parcel only has produced 600-900 litres of wine since ALLBAER launched, so this is rare and special juice. Alex added a little spice to the blend with a mellow Tuscan-style Cabernet Sauvignon for the first time in 2022 and was blown away by the outcome. The final blend is 79% Sangiovese, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% New French Oak, and 38.5% whole cluster.

“The medium-ruby-hued 2022 Sangiovese Escarpe checks in as 79% Sangiovese and 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, that’s from a mix of the Solana and Brecon Estate vineyards. Spiced cherries, leather, savory strawberries, and incense notes all give way to a medium bodied, elegant red that has nicely integrated oak, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It’s certainly going to drink nicely through 2032.”

92 points – Jeb Dunnick, Aug 2024.