Kalen’s Blend has been a mainstay and an EK calling card since our first release (all the way back in 2004!) and while the vineyard sources have changed over the years, the gregarious personality of the wine remains consistent.
For 2021 we sourced the excellent Samantha’s vineyard with its eclectic field blend of Syrah clones planted on a terraced hilltop just south of Healdsburg. The near 360-degree exposure and excellent drainage produces intense, ripe fruit bringing tons of chewy character to the wine. We married it with some lovely, more elegant Syrah from Vivio vineyard in cooler lower Bennett Valley, one of our all-time favorite regions for this grape. As always, the “blending” is the art of Kalen’s Blend.
Almost inky in color, Kalen’s sports a deep crimson hue in the glass, promising the deeply satisfying Syrah experience to come. And true to Kalen’s of yore, the 2021 handily showcases the boisterous, black fruit driven side of Syrah. This is a wine you can sink your teeth into: full-bodied and absolutely stuffed with plenty of up-front flavor, along with peppery spices and bramble riding shotgun with all that beautiful fruit.
We tend to prefer this wine after a few years of cellar age when it’s mellowed a bit, but life is short, so don’t be afraid to crack a bottle shortly after release – we won’t hold it against you!
DRINKING WINDOWS
Prime drinking: Late 2023 through 2032 Graceful ageability: 2033+
Direct sales are allocated exclusively to EK Allocation List members at a 10% discount. Orders of 6+ bottles save an additional 50% off shipping. New releases ship twice a year, once in the spring and again in the fall. Join EK Allocation List
CUSTOMIZED ALLOCATIONS
You may customize your spring and fall allocations any way you like, from 0–12 bottles of each wine. (Small-lot and list-only wines will have lower limits.) To modify your allocations, click on MY ALLOCATION above. Join EK Allocation List
REORDERS
Wines often sell out at or close to release, so we encourage making the most of your spring and fall allocations. As long as wine remains, you are welcome to reorder online through our EK Special Order store. Or contact John Gillis at john@erickentwines.com or 415.244.9453.
