95 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

Dramatically different in style (which should be expected), the 2016 Grenache Ora et Labora comes from Bien Nacido, which is an incredible Grand Cru vineyard located just east of the town of Santa Maria. It’s farmed brilliantly by Chris Hamell and is a site that consistently produces world class wines. Deeper colored than the Larner Vineyard Grenache, it offers a more masculine, marine-influenced bouquet of mulled red and blackberries, ground pepper, smoked game, lavender, and violets. Complex and nuanced on the nose, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It’s an incredible mix of masculine, briny aromatics pared with a seamless, elegant style on the palate, and this singular wine will continue drinking beautifully for at least a decade.