Check our events page for the weekly selections
Monterey Bay Wine Co
The Wine
"Horsepower" is aptly named. Here is their dense and expressive Grenache from a biodynamic vineyard planted in 2008. The vines are tightly spaced in 3×3‑foot rows, an intense density that forces the vines to compete for nutrients, thereby lowering the output of each vine but increasing the intensity of flavor development in each cluster.
The juice was fermented using some whole‑clusters to amplify high-toned fruit aromas, then aged in neutral French oak barrels to preserve the purity of fruit while allowing the vineyard’s savory, mineral character to shine.
Enthusiastic, layered aromas of beef drippings, tar, wintergreen, beef jerky, iodine, and red fruit and spice adding an enticing curiosity. The palate is full and textural with an exceedingly long finish reflecting both the warm vintage and the characteristics of this special site.
Pairings: Go Big! Roasted meats, game, charred vegetables, and richly spiced dishes. Cheese-wise, reach for our aged sheep’s‑milk cheeses or a firm Alpine cow’s‑milk cheese.
The Winery
Horsepower Vineyards is part of the Cayuse family of estates, known for extremely high‑density planting and meticulous biodynamic farming in the cobblestone soils of the Walla Walla Valley.
The Sur Echalas Vineyard, planted in 2008, exemplifies this philosophy. It holds nearly 12,000 vines per hectare on soils composed of compacted basalt cobblestones - both factors force the vines to struggle, producing concentrated, deeply expressive fruit.
Winemaking is restrained—neutral oak, whole clusters, and patient élevage—allowing the vineyard’s savory, mineral, and textural signature to define the wine. The 2023 Grenache continues the estate’s track record of producing some of the most distinctive and critically acclaimed Grenache in the United States.
