2020 The Third Twin Nuestra Señora Del Tercer Gemelo

More black and blue fruits as well as leather, iron, and smoked herb notes emerge from the 2020 Nuestra Senora Del Tercer Gemelo, and it picks up more dried flowers, spice, and sandalwood notes as it sits in the glass. Based on 54% Mourvèdre, 22% Grenache, 11% Syrah, and the rest Petite Sirah, Graciano, and Viognier, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a dark, layered, exotic style, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. It's a singular, complex, nuanced beauty that will have two decades of overall longevity.

I tasted the 2020 Nuestra Senora Del Tercer Gemelo on July 6, not long after it was bottled on April 27. It comes entirely from The Third Twin estate vineyard, where grapes are planted in pure sand. A blend of 54% Mourvèdre, 22% Grenache, 11% Syrah, 9.3% Petite Sirah, 3% Graciano and 0.7% Viognier, it was vinified using 30% whole clusters and matured around 31 months in 33% new French oak barrels. Its aromas are dense to begin, taking time to unfold from dark cherry fruit to savory tones of coffee beans and cocoa, shiitake and underbrush. Despite its aromatic reticence at this early stage, the full-bodied palate explodes with layers of black cherry candy, blueberry and violet. It's structurally seamless, with silty tannins and energetic acidity that balances its sheer concentration and gives an impression of etherealness and lift. It has a tremendously long, floral finish, and there's so much here still waiting to emerge. 425 cases will be released in January 2024.