GRAIL
THE SINGLE VINEYARD COLLECTION
Celebrating California’s Grand Cru vineyards.
After many seasons of preparation, the inaugural offering of the Grail by Dan Kosta Single Vineyard Collection is now live.
This offer is highly allocated due to the nature of its limited production. Allocation levels are based on purchase history and tenure. Orders will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
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DK Grail, CAMPBELL RANCH Pinot Noir 2021
Vineyard Site
Perched at 850 feet elevation, Campbell Ranch rests on the very edge of the residual marine layer from the Pacific Ocean in the West Sonoma Coast appellation. Carved from this rugged and unique maritime landscape, the terroir is ensconced by redwoods and ferns. Farmed by Steve Campbell, the vines are about twenty years old, low-yielding, sitting atop Goldridge soil.
Winemaking
This wine was harvested in mid-September (9.15, 9.17, and 9.20) between 24.8-25.5 brix. After a five-day cold soak and two weeks of fermentation, the wine aged for fifteen months in 38% new French oak before bottling. The coopers included Boutes, Sirugue, Cavin, Rousseau, and Gamba.
Dan’s Notes
Campbell Ranch has held a very special place in my heart since 2013, when we used the fruit from the coastal vineyard for the first time. I’ve always been intrigued by the subtle complexity that the vineyard offers. 2021 was a fairly intense vintage, boasting broad red and black fruit. But what is unique about this land other than the complex fruit are the savory undertones that make one think about the nuances of the wine and how fruit meets earth. Hints of pine needle and earthiness compliment the juicy complexity of the dark fruit, making for a profile that covers the entire palate through the long, dusty finish.
DK Grail, GARys' VINEYARD Pinot Noir 2021
Vineyard Site
Garys’ Vineyard, a 50-acre gem in the Santa Lucia Highlands, is renowned for its meticulously hand-farmed vines. With yields restricted to about 3 tons per acre, the namesake Garys’ focus on exceptional quality is evident in every aspect of the vineyard management. The vines flourish in well-draining Arroyo Seco Sandy Loam soil and benefit from the cool maritime influence of Monterey Bay, ensuring a long, consistent growing season on the gentle slopes that rise to approximately 400 feet.
Winemaking
This wine was harvested in late September at 25.9 brix. After a five-day cold soak and fifteen-day fermentation, the wine aged for ten months in 50% new French oak before bottling. The coopers included Rousseau, Boutes, and Sirugue.
Dan’s Notes
I have known Garys’ Vineyard for many years and am really enjoying its uniqueness truly stand out. This vineyard is co-owned and farmed by Gary Pisoni and Gary Francioni. Only a stone’s throw from Rosella’s Vineyard, it is truly distinct from its sister plot. Ripe blackberry, cocoa, and stonefruit make this wine a bold expression of Santa Lucia Highlands, with its cool-climate signature of a round mouthfeel with a clean, juicy finish. Unapologetic, but refined and nuanced, this wine will age gracefully and continue to reveal new complexities.
DK Grail, Rosella's VINEYARD Pinot Noir 2021
Vineyard Site
Rosella’s Vineyard, nestled in the Santa Lucia Highlands and owned by Gary and Rosella Franscioni, is a celebrated 50-acre estate established in 1996. Its prime location near Monterey Bay fosters one of California’s coolest climates and longest growing seasons. This advantageous setting promotes slow ripening, ensuring full flavor development in the grapes.
Winemaking
This wine was harvested in the first week of October of 2021 at 25.7 brix. After a five-day cold soak and two-week fermentation, the wine aged for fifteen months in 50% new French oak barrels by Rousseau, Boutes, and Sirugue coopers.
Dan’s Notes
This vintage shows the maturity of Rosella’s Vineyard and how 30 years have been very complimentary to the vines. In its youth, this vineyard offered bright, crunchy red fruit, with a signature of citrus peel. As I have experienced many wines from this vineyard over the years, I am enjoying the evolution of these characteristics. Those specific flavors are still there, but they have moved to the background as darker, rounder fruits have taken center stage. I find pomegranate, cherry and wild strawberry with hints of ruby red grapefruit blend together to create a seamless, matriarchal Pinot Noir.
DK Grail, Rosella's VINEYARD Chardonnay, 2022
Vineyard Site
The Rosella’s Vineyard rests along the gently sloping benchlands of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range. Owners Gary and Rosella Franscioni planted the vineyard in 1996. A fourth-generation farmer, Gary’s passion for growing only the finest fruit on his home vineyard has resulted in a significant following for his Rosella’s Pinot Noir. Less widely known is his small block of excellent Dijon clone Chardonnay.
Winemaking
This wine was harvested on September 10, 2021. Each clonal section is harvested and kept separate until blending. After a period of stirring on the lees and a full malolactic fermentation, the wine aged for fifteen months in 50% new French oak before bottling. The coopers included Cadus and Sirugue.
Dan’s Notes
For our first DK Grail Chardonnay, we chose the acclaimed Rosella’s Vineyard, from where we source Pinot Noir. Co-mingling in similar cool climates, Chardonnay is a perfect complement to Pinot Noir, even especially when grown at the same site. I love the complexity and vibrancy of this wine, with its pale straw color and flavors of juicy pear, pineapple, kiwi, and lemon custard, accented with notes of hazelnut and brioche on the finish. Adaptable and complex, this wine pairs with myriad food choices.
The Quest for DK Grail
We are on a quest to perfect wines of elegant intensity and bring them to the rest of the world.
DK Grail is a treasured bottle of Pinot Noir that is exclusively made available to people and hospitality venues on the DK allocation list. Wine enthusiasts and collectors who seek out wines that are rare, unique and difficult to acquire cherish DK Grail. They enjoy the quest to secure an allocation and the pleasure and pride of sharing a bottle with people at special occasions, opportunities to create impactful relationships or lasting memories.