Folk Machine Syrah/Grenache from Hobo Wine Company
2024 Folk Machine Syrah/Grenache, Brosseau Vineyard, Chalone
One of three wines we produce from the famed Brosseau Vineyard in the Chalone appellation. High in the Gavilans, the site is known for large deposits of granite and limestone that result in extremely low yields.
We are incredibly happy with the 2024 Syrah/Grenache. With 50% whole cluster and a moderate maceration, this wine is dark, rich, and powerful, but moderate in alcohol and surprisingly drinkable.
We have been working with Bill Brosseau and the certified organic Brosseau Vineyard in the Chalone appellation off and on for a number of years now. The Brosseau wines offer a terroir driven expression of a single site; high elevation, extremely scarce rainfall, and crushed granite, limestone soils. It is said a million times and I try not to be cliché when I’m writing these things, but this is a truly unique site that mixes California weather with soil types that are more common in European vineyards leading to a wine that is at once Californian with fruit and richness, but also mineral and textural in a way that is not common in California.
This roughly 50/50 blend of Syrah and Grenache is 50% whole cluster (stems included) fermented and aged in 500L puncheons that were not new, but not old enough yet to be neutral.
2024 was a warm vintage in Chalone producing rich, ripe wines with flavor and depth Both the Syrah and the Grenache were harvested in the middle of September. The final wine sits at 6.0 g/L titratable with a pH of 3.60.
Specs
Varietal: Syrah, Grenache
Appellation: Chalone
Alcohol: 12.6%
TA: 6.0 g/L
pH: 3.60
Production: Bottled 134 cases August 2025.
What’s Included
4-bottles:
4x - 2024 Folk Machine Syrah/Grenache, Brosseau Vineyard, Chalone
Case:
12x - 2024 Folk Machine Syrah/Grenache, Brosseau Vineyard, Chalone
We began the namesake Hobo Wine Company in 2002. My dad didn’t think it was a very good name for a wine company and many people have shared his sentiment over the years, but it has always felt right to us so we have braved on with it.
Hobo is all Sonoma County. I was raised in Sonoma County. After a lot of searching around, I have chosen to raise my two daughters here as well.
As a grape growing region, there is so much to explore and experiment with here. Many sub AVAs have characters and qualities that make a Sonoma County brand able to evolve and stay exciting. Primarily, we have focused on Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. More recently, we have added an Aglianico to experiment with what might be the future.
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
RWS offered this up about a month ago, looks like a 4 pack was $68 plus the ship…
The 2024 Folk Machine Brosseau Vineyard Syrah-Grenache opens with quite a pleasing aroma full of dark, ripe fruit, touches of smoked meat and a little bit of minerality and earthiness. It’s a great start.
Taking a sip reveals a very tasty, very drinkable wine featuring similar flavors to the nose. Ripe, rich, juicy and tart fruit leads the way in this medium-bodied wine but you’ll also find those other touches from the nose. It is also quite refreshing with only 12.6% alcohol – this is not easy to find these days thanks to climate change.
It ends dry and long on the lip-smacking finish and was just as good on day 2. This is a great find…
@kaolis
I still don’t see the value of a review by the guy who is selling the wine on his own website. Not that other websites don’t review and praise the wines that they sell, but that is marketing, not marketing disguised as an unbiased review.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2024 Folk Machine Syrah/Grenache - $70 = 31.11%
I discovered I was to be a labrat for this bottle while on the road all week and my dogsitter who could have been home to sign also started a new job after being between for a couple weeks, so timing was not in our favor.
It’s also been hot here so it likely spent three days into the evening in a sun-baked brown truck, not sure how it would have fared. Tried to arrange pickup as I got back in town (UPS said they hold 5 days) but they routed it to return overnight same morning, lol. Any other week I’d have been home, argh haha
Hoping for other rats because it looks really good! Also appreciate they seem like a good company and donate 1% to environmental nonprofits.
Folk Machine Syrah/Grenache from Hobo Wine Company
2024 Folk Machine Syrah/Grenache, Brosseau Vineyard, Chalone
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$420/Case at Hobo Wine Company for 12x 2024 Folk Machine Syrah/Grenache, Brosseau Vineyard, Chalone
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Sep 14 - Wednesday, Sep 16
2024 Folk Machine Syrah/Grenache
4 bottles for $74.99 $18.75/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $154.99 $12.92/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
RWS offered this up about a month ago, looks like a 4 pack was $68 plus the ship…
The 2024 Folk Machine Brosseau Vineyard Syrah-Grenache opens with quite a pleasing aroma full of dark, ripe fruit, touches of smoked meat and a little bit of minerality and earthiness. It’s a great start.
Taking a sip reveals a very tasty, very drinkable wine featuring similar flavors to the nose. Ripe, rich, juicy and tart fruit leads the way in this medium-bodied wine but you’ll also find those other touches from the nose. It is also quite refreshing with only 12.6% alcohol – this is not easy to find these days thanks to climate change.
It ends dry and long on the lip-smacking finish and was just as good on day 2. This is a great find…
fwiw
@kaolis
I still don’t see the value of a review by the guy who is selling the wine on his own website. Not that other websites don’t review and praise the wines that they sell, but that is marketing, not marketing disguised as an unbiased review.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2024 Folk Machine Syrah/Grenache - $70 = 31.11%
@Mark_L looks interesting… don’t need 12 but I’m cheap and 12 is certainly more attractive
I discovered I was to be a labrat for this bottle while on the road all week and my dogsitter who could have been home to sign also started a new job after being between for a couple weeks, so timing was not in our favor.
It’s also been hot here so it likely spent three days into the evening in a sun-baked brown truck, not sure how it would have fared. Tried to arrange pickup as I got back in town (UPS said they hold 5 days) but they routed it to return overnight same morning, lol. Any other week I’d have been home, argh haha
Hoping for other rats because it looks really good! Also appreciate they seem like a good company and donate 1% to environmental nonprofits.