Patriarche is our flagship Rhône-style blend, inspired by the wines of France’s Rhone Valley and crafted from our mountain-grown Mourvedre, Syrah, Grenache and Counoise. The enthusiasm for this blend stems from the first tasting of a Châteauneuf-du-Pape shared by Holly and her husband, the family’s patriarch, on their honeymoon.”
Each grape variety plays its part in the Patriarche symphony:
The percentages shift with each vintage, allowing the wine to showcase the unique personality of the growing season while maintaining the house style: rich aromatics, layered flavors, and a long, elegant finish.
Hand-harvested from steep, slate slopes at 2,700 feet.
Small-lot fermentation to preserve vineyard character.
Aged in neutral French oak to integrate flavors without having oak flavor mask the fruit.
Bottled after one year in barrel and then cellared for an additional year in the bottle prior to release.
Lush layers of blueberry, blackberry, and blackcurrant aromas are joined by subtle notes of herbs de Provence, lavender, and a hint of anise. The palate offers rich cassis-like depth, finishing with smooth, ripe fruit that lingers pleasantly.
Patriarche shines alongside rich, flavorful dishes:
“sexy, soft, earthy” – Robert Parker
“A wine with as many layers as an alluring novel, each page yielding something new to keep bringing you back.” – Mike Dunne, Sacramento Bee
“This concentrated and intricate blend of meaty, spicy, earthy flavors captures the essence of a Rhône-style wine.” – Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Holly’s Hill Vineyards specializes in Rhone varietals grown in El Dorado County at elevations reaching 2,700 feet. Our wines include Grenache, Mourvedre, Roussanne, Viognier and Syrah, crafted in small lots from fruit grown in the Sierra Foothills, El Dorado AVA. Available online and at our tasting room in the Pleasant Valley wine region of El Dorado near Placerville, California.
