Âmevive - 'Peripherie - Ibarra-Young Vineyard' - Marsanne, Syrah, Mourvèdre - Santa Ynez Valley, CA - 2025

@amevive, amevive.wine

Notes from the Winery/Importer

These vines are part of the original planting by Charlotte Young in 1971. The 2025 vintage marked these vine’s 54th year. This wine comes from the far western side of the property - the edge, or the “périphérie”. While the majority of the old vines in the vineyard have typically three foot shoots, and moderately sized clusters, the “périphérie” row can have up to 10 feet long canes sprawling onto the ground, often with football-sized clusters. I felt there could be a more intentional use for this anomalous, higher-vigor section rather than simply blending it into the block-designate wines. So, as an ode to the traditional way of harvesting, and in an effort to make a fresh wine out of a serious vineyard, I made a co-fermented field blend. In some ways, it is the truest representation of the site, as it comprises all three original blocks. It is a special wine, and it holds a special place in our hearts! Périphérie was harvested in the early morning of September 18, 2025. The ratio of each of the three varieties was determined by the fruitfulness of vines as we worked up the two “peripherie” designate rows. This year the blend is about 55% Marsanne, 35% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre. The Marsanne, Syrah, and Mourvedre were harvested into the same picking bins and brought to the cellar to be destemmed together into a two-ton fermenter. After native fermentation commenced, this wine was made with more “infusion” than extraction. We used minimal pour overs and only the lightest love touches. 2025 Périphérie was sent to press after 11 days on skins. This wine was then aged for 6 months in neutral French oak barrels before being bottled unfined and unfiltered on March 25, 2025. Périphérie was harvested in the early morning of September 18, 2025. The ratio of each of the three varieties was determined by the fruitfulness of vines as we worked up the two “peripherie” designate rows. This year the blend is about 55% Marsanne, 35% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre. The Marsanne, Syrah, and Mourvedre were harvested into the same picking bins and brought to the cellar to be destemmed together into a two-ton fermenter. After native fermentation commenced, this wine was made with more “infusion” than extraction. We used minimal pour overs and only the lightest love touches. 2025 Périphérie was sent to press after 11 days on skins. This wine was then aged for 6 months in neutral French oak barrels before being bottled unfined and unfiltered on March 25, 2025. Périphérie was harvested in the early morning of September 18, 2025. The ratio of each of the three varieties was determined by the fruitfulness of vines as we worked up the two “peripherie” designate rows. This year the blend is about 55% Marsanne, 35% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre. The Marsanne, Syrah, and Mourvedre were harvested into the same picking bins and brought to the cellar to be destemmed together into a two-ton fermenter. After native fermentation commenced, this wine was made with more “infusion” than extraction. We used minimal pour overs and only the lightest love touches. 2025 Périphérie was sent to press after 11 days on skins. This wine was then aged for 6 months in neutral French oak barrels before being bottled unfined and unfiltered on March 25, 2025.

Notes on the Producer

Pronunciation: "ahm-veev" Translation: soulful, lively soul, living soul the emotional part of human nature; the seat of the feelings or sentiments. high-mindedness; noble warmth of feeling, spirit or courage. the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity and separate from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part. --- We lease and farm the Ibarra-Young Vineyard in Los Olivos District A.V.A. This vineyard was planted by Charlotte Young in 1971 and is still owned by her three daughters. Charlotte's right-hand man, Miguel Ibarra, helped her plant the vineyard in 1971 and continued to work on the vineyard for more than 40 years. Today, we celebrate this duo by designating these 10 acres as the Ibarra-Young Vineyard. Ibarra-Young Vineyard was one of the first vineyards planted in the Santa Ynez Valley and has so much soul you can feel it. The first 3 acres were planted in 1971 and 3 more acres were planted in 1973. In the late ’90s and early 2000s Bob Lindquist completed Ibarra-Young's planted acreage with the "young" vines in the rockier section of the vineyard. The vineyard is planted to Syrah and Mourvèdre planted in 1971, Marsanne planted in 1973, as well as suitcase clone Tempranillo and Graciano planted in the late ’90s. Everything on the property is own-rooted and has been farmed organically since 1993. We began leasing and farming this special place at the beginning of 2020 and employ regenerative organic and biodynamic practices. Our goal is to rebuild an ecosystem of native species that live alongside our vine rows, regenerate soil health, and grow the highest quality grapes this site can give. We believe the best wine grapes are grown with minimal inputs and conscious vineyard management. We reject a systematic schedule for viticulture and farming in general. We believe that by working in conjunction with nature we can increase biodiversity and soil health, minimize unnecessary sprays, minimize tractor passes and compaction, decrease water use, and reduce our carbon footprint. We look forward to taking you along on this journey of unconventional viticulture with us. We hope to convince you that with a lot of passion and hard work, world-class wines are made with minimal intervention in a vineyard that grows alongside a healthy living ecosystem.

Grapes & Style

Marsanne

Marsanne is a northern Rhône white grape, especially associated with Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, and Crozes-Hermitage, and often blended with Roussanne. It’s also important in parts of southern France and has found a serious home in Australia, particularly Victoria.

In the vineyard, Marsanne is generally productive and can handle warm conditions, but it needs care to avoid making wines that feel too broad or low in acid. It can be fairly neutral when young, but with age it often develops more interesting texture and savory complexity.

In the glass, Marsanne tends to show pear, yellow apple, almond, honey, herbs, and a waxy, rounded feel. It’s less overtly aromatic than Viognier or Roussanne, but it can age beautifully, moving toward nuttier, deeper, more savory tones. We like it for white wines that are textural and quiet rather than flashy.

Syrah

Syrah is a northern Rhône grape with a serious range, capable of making dark, structured, savory reds without needing the sheer weight of Cabernet. Its home is places like Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Cornas, and Saint-Joseph, but it has traveled widely, especially to Australia, California, South Africa, and parts of the Mediterranean.

In the vineyard, Syrah tends to like warmth, but not excessive heat. In cooler sites it can be peppery, floral, and lifted; in warmer places it becomes darker, richer, and more generous. It has relatively small berries and can produce wines with deep color, good tannin, and a strong savory profile.

In the glass, Syrah often shows black fruit, violet, black pepper, olive, smoke, meat, and spice. The best examples have density without feeling clumsy — dark-fruited and structured, but still aromatic and full of detail. We tend to love Syrah when it keeps that savory edge and doesn’t lose its freshness.

Mourvèdre

Mourvèdre is a late-ripening Mediterranean red grape, especially important in Bandol, the southern Rhône, Spain, and warm coastal regions around the world. In Spain it’s usually called Monastrell, and in Australia it has often been known as Mataro. It’s frequently blended with Grenache and Syrah, but in the right places it can stand powerfully on its own.

In the vineyard, Mourvèdre needs heat and a long season to ripen properly. It likes warm, dry conditions, often near the sea, and can struggle in cooler or wetter climates. When it ripens fully, it brings deep color, tannin, and a distinctly savory dimension.

In the glass, Mourvèdre tends toward dark fruit, black plum, dried herbs, leather, earth, game, and spice. It can be firm and brooding in youth, but the best versions develop real complexity with age. We like it most when the richness is matched by freshness and the wine keeps its wild, savory edge.