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2020 Iruai ‘Shasta-Cascade’ Red

2020 Iruai ‘Shasta-Cascade’ Red

Region: Shasta-Cascade (Trinity Lakes and Rogue Valley AVA’s) > California + Oregon

Grapes:  30% Trousseau / 20% Mondeuse / 10% Blaufränkisch / 20% Pinot Noir / 20% Pinot Gris

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic, hands off permaculture farming, inspired by the methods of Masanobu Fukuoka. Sandstone and granite soil with a small amount of basalt and clay for the Trousseau. 100% whole cluster fermented – 7 days carbonic, 7 days with daily punchdowns via foot treading, then 30 – 90 days of maceration, before pressing into neutral barrel. Rested, and bottled with just 25ppm SO2; 12.5% ABV

Winemaker: Chad Hinds

From esteemed Methode Sauvage winemaker, Chad Hinds, comes yet another new label and an even newer idea and philosophy. Leaving Berkeley and urban winemaking behind, he and his wife Michelle moved to Siskiyou County in the far north-central tip of California where it borders Oregon.  The area, which the couple refer to as the California Alps, lies at the southern end of the Cascade Range  —  that chain of ancient volcanoes that sweeps down from Canada and through the Pacific Northwest. Above their newly planted vineyards looms Mount Shasta — California’s answer to Mount Fuji — a potentially active volcano that towers over the valley at 14,179 feet.  “It’s Switzerland meets Montana, with a heavy dose of ‘Twin Peaks,’” says Chad. This is the land of gold mining, beaver trapping, and now, a wine movement springing, quite literally, from the ground up.

Chad and Michelle chose Alpine varieties for their vines, and admit
that it is an ‘esoteric experiment’. Their farming is based on the
agricultural theories of Masanobu Fukuoka, a Japanese agricultural
scientist who espoused a non-intervention approach to farming –
meaning no tilling, no fertilizer, no pesticides, no weeding, no
training, no pruning, nothing. Known simply as natural farming, the
method is kind of agricultural rewilding  — an attempt to grow the
grapes as they might want to grow themselves. For the ‘Shasta Cascade’ blend Chad and Michelle are buying a little bit of fruit from Oregon to supplement their young vines, so this wine contains a little bit of each- valley and mountain.

And it's a magical wine, the kind of mountain juice you imagine
Bigfoot clans drinking to celebrate the summer equinox.  It's a party
in your mouth of wild blackberry fruit, baking spice, and brisk alpine
acidity that snaps like a pair of hot pink Spanx.  Juicy with vibrant
energy, a silky texture and red hot cinnamon spice, Shasta-Cascade red is pure joy!
Regular price $28.00
Regular price Sale price $28.00
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