McKahn Family Cellars Grenache Morning Glass Arroyo Seco 2022

We have Morning Glass! This is one of our favorite California-styled Rhône wines – made by the phenom that is Charles “Chuck” McKahn. A brambly, sunny, floral, exotic 100% Grenache from Monterey, scoring a solid 91 points, and just stupendous for only $15!

If you didn’t know, our office is in Napa (yes indeed, we can see vineyards from our windows). And while our buying team traipses around the world as often as the budget allows, finding excellent wines made by cool people… some of our best deals come from just being part of the fabric of life and work here in the valley. Which is why we were able to procure this McKahn bottle for you at just $15 apiece when you get two or more.

So who made this? Chuck McKahn! He chose winemaking as early as 17, working harvest at a winery in his hometown of Ripon, California. He went through Cal Poly’s Enology program, then landed a cellar job under the legendary Phillip Titus at the historic Chappellet Vineyard on Pritchard Hill. He worked his way up to assistant winemaker in just five years (not at all guaranteed at a fancy place like Chappellet). Phillip's recommendation sent Chuck to a head winemaker position at nearby William Harrison. But he has energy to spare. So he’s also the day-to-day winemaker at Titus in St. Helena, AND he’s the associate winemaker at Acumen. His work is smooth, clean, harmonious, and impeccably balanced.

Back to this 2022 Morning Glass. Wine Enthusiast likes the way “boysenberry, pepper and anise aromas make for an intense nose on this wine by a Napa-based brand from Monterey fruit.” They’re kind of understating it? The nose is absolutely sensational: lilacs, roses, white pepper, homegrown strawberries on a warm summer day, and a bite of cooling mint to enthrall your attention. In the mouth, raspberries explode into cherry and wild blackberry and smoky sage, spinning wildly into vanilla and star anise and brilliantly integrated acidity. 

The grapes come from a banana-belt spot in Arroyo Seco AVA – so warmer than you would expect for the Monterey area. The lovely name “Morning Glass” refers to a McKahn family vacation tradition of getting onto a lake in Monterey by 6:30 a.m. to water ski when the surface is untroubled at first light and smooth as glass.

Aged for 18 months in neutral barrels, this is perfectly balanced and gorgeously ripe. It outdoes some $60 reds, so for $15 – which is 67% off – you cannot get too much of this. By the way, today is National Sauvignon Blanc Day, so we should tell you we have a dozen bottles left of the excellent 92 point Titus Sauv Blanc to round out your box and get you set for the warmer days moving in. Enjoy!