LaBarge’s 2018 Grenache from the Sta. Rita Hills is a 100% varietal, estate-grown wine from a small, family-run site in Santa Barbara County. The LaBarge estate totals about 12 acres and is organically farmed, with the vineyard planted on varied soils including clay loam, diatomaceous earth, and calcareous shale. The site’s cool, ocean-influenced conditions help explain why this Grenache reads as more structured and spice-driven than many California examples, even at a listed 15% alcohol.

This is also a distinctly stem-influenced rendition. Jeb Dunnuck reports that the wine was “fermented with 73% whole clusters and aged mostly in neutral barrels,” a cellar approach that tends to emphasize aromatic lift, savory detail, and firmer tannin shape. In Dunnuck’s view, it “reveals a vivid ruby/plum hue” with “attractive Bing cherry and darker berry fruits,” along with “peppery herbs and spice,” and “enough structure to evolve for a good decade.” He adds that “it should be even better with a year or two of bottle age,” underscoring its youthful, built-to-age posture.

The strongest critical reception comes from Wine Enthusiast, which awarded an excellent 94 points. Reviewer Matt Kettmann calls it “this very cool-climate expression of Grenache,” noting “boysenberry, elderberry, dried purple flowers and dark, peppery spices” on the nose. On the palate, Kettmann emphasizes that “the palate’s structure is very firm,” with flavors of “violet, wild mint, loamy earth and elderberry,” and concludes that they “should last a long time.” Wine Enthusiast recommends drinking it from 2022–2033.

Taken together, the reviews point to a Grenache that prioritizes freshness, savory complexity, and longevity over simple fruit sweetness—one that should reward decanting in youth and develop well over the next decade.