Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Melange Rouge drifts out with wonderfully peppery notes, giving way to stewed plums, Morello cherries, and boysenberry scents, with hints of garrigue and bacon fat. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a firm backbone of grainy tannins and great tension supporting the perfumed black and red fruit flavors, finishing long with a skip in its step. The blend is 48% Syrah (from Slide Hill and Rancho Boa Vista vineyards, to blend warmer and cooler climate Syrah), 35% Grenache (Slide Hill vineyard), 12% Graciano (Martian Ranch), and 5% Petite Sirah (Tommy Town Thoroughbreds - Happy Canyon).

I was able to taste two vintages of the Mélange Rouge cuvée. Starting with the 2019 Mélange Rouge, this was 47% Syrah, 35% Grenache, 12% Graciano, and the rest Petite Sirah. Deep ruby/purple-hued, with lots of blackberry, currants, peppery herbs, and baking spice notes, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness and has a round, layered mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and a great finish. It shines for its elegance and finesse while still bringing plenty of density and depth. Sourced from a mix of sites in the Central Coast and 50% destemmed, aged 22 months in 30% new barrels, enjoy this beauty any time over the coming 10-15 years.<!--more-->A new estate for me, I was more than impressed by these releases (2018 was the inaugural vintage) from Walson Holland. A collaboration between winemaker Benjamin Holland and vineyard owner Jonas Svensson, the estate pulls from sites throughout Santa Barbara County and produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as brilliant Rhône whites and reds. It’s worth pointing out that Holland has worked at some top-notch estates, including Kosta Brown and Sine Qua Non. Readers looking for the next superstar in the Central Coast should sit up and take notice.

The 2019 Melange Rouge is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Graciano and Petite Syrah. A rich boisterous wine, the 2019 packs plenty of punch. Super-ripe red/purplish fruit, lavender, licorice, rose petal and menthol all run through this dense, plush red blend. - By Antonio Galloni on July 2023