Holus Bolus Syrah – Franc de Pied

  • Home
  • Wine
  • Holus Bolus Syrah – Franc de Pied
Holus – frand de pied

Holus Bolus Syrah – Franc de Pied

$1.00

Country USA
Region California
Producer Black Sheep Finds
Size

750mL
Style Red
Practices Organic
Grapes Syrah
Other Features Vegan, Indigenous yeasts, Ungrafted

100% Syrah from John Sebastiano Vineyard, which is located at the eastern edge of Sta. Rita Hills, in Santa Barbara County. The site was planted in 2007 to a density of 2,400 vines per acre. The vines are on their own rootstock and come from cuttings that were originally brought over from Côte Rôtie, hence the Franc de Pied naming.

These own-rooted vines always grow smaller, produce smaller clusters, and make what Peter and Amy feel is one of the most unique wines in their cellar. The grapes were fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks. 25% whole clusters were used and fermentation lasted for 15 days. The wine was aged in a combination of 2 and 3 year-old French oak barrels for 14 months before bottling without fining or filtration.

The aromas are reminiscent of black olives, rosemary and smoke, giving way to flavors of dark raspberries and spice. The Franc de Pied is a fine example of cool climate Syrah. Enjoy now and over the next 8-10 years. 125 cases produced. 13.5% alcohol.

Availability:In Stock & Ready to Ship
Product Code: SKU - holus-bolus-syrah-franc-de-pied Category:

About the Producer

Peter Hunken got his start in winemaking in 2001 at Stolpman Vineyards and was the Assistant Winemaker there until 2006. In 2003, he partnered with Sashi Moorman to start Piedrasassi (a mash-up of their two names, Peter and Sashi) as well as Holus Bolus, a brand focused on Syrah. During this time he gained experience working with Rhône varieties, as well as Sangiovese, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2004, he met Amy Christine, his future wife, spitting wine over the winery drains in Lompoc. They founded Black Sheep Finds a year later; in 2008, Peter decided to amicably split from Sashi to focus on Holus Bolus, while Piedrasassi went to Moorman. Peter and Amy went on to develop other projects under the umbrella of Black Sheep, with Peter in charge of the winemaking - as well as managing and directly selling the wines in Central and Southern California. 2020 marked his 20th vintage making wine in Santa Barbara County. In 2013, Amy passed the Master of Wine exam and can now call herself one of 14 women in the US to achieve the title. In addition to the work she does with the Institute of Masters of Wine, she works full-time for Kermit Lynch Imports. In the little spare time she has left, she helps out in the vineyard and cellar.

Farming/vinification practices: Black Sheep Finds works closely with vineyards they purchase grapes from with acre contracts, in addition to their own vineyard, the Joy Fantastic. Amy and Peter reduced punching downs - previously 3 times a day, now once a day; they are pumping over instead. This is less work, but it still manages the cap and alleviates any volatile acidity (the wine is also blanketed with CO2), while resulting in wines with more elegance. There is less extraction, more finesse, and no bitterness on the finish. All the wines are unfined, and vegan.

- Bien Nacido Vineyard (Holus Bolus blanc) - the 5 acre block of Roussanne is farmed biodynamically. Goats eat the cover crop during the winter, and biodynamic preparations are used. The other parts of the vineyard (it is a very large vineyard) are SIP Certified Sustainable.
- Radian Vineyard (Amy & Peter Made This Pinot Noir) - this vineyard is farmed organically, though it does not yet have a certification.
- John Sebastiano Vineyard (Holus Bolus Syrah “Franc de Pied) - this vineyard is farmed organically, not certified.
- Presqu’ile Vineyard (Holus Bolus Syrah, “Presqu’ile Vineyard”) - this vineyard is SIP Certified sustainable.
- The Joy Fantastic Vineyard: in 2014, Amy and Peter realized their dream of having their own "estate" vineyard. What was formerly a hillside cow pasture, located in one of the farthest west sites in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation, was developed and planted with 3 acres of Pinot Noir (Swan, Mt. Eden, Pommard, 115 and 667), 1 acre of Chardonnay (Mt. Eden and 76) and 1 acre of Syrah (a mishmash of 5 clones). The first (small) crop was harvested in 2016. This vineyard is CCOF certified Organic.

Holus Bolus Wine
You Tube channel: Holus Bolus Winery and The Joy Fantastic Vineyard

related products