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.
@chipgreen agree on rws to a point, it has been brought up here before and yes they have a relationship, but WD has stated that Jon is a pretty straight shooter, and in WD we trust right?
…but I’ve read enough of his reviews that I think there is some value, marketing aside…and quite honestly from my viewpoint I post all sorts of obscure reviews and comments and blurbs and other reviewers that work for retailers such as Wilfred and other cr*p that has no value…as they say grain of salt and fwiw
@kaolis
I truly appreciate the vast majority of the reviews you post, especially since most of the WE and WS reviews are behind paywalls, IIRC. I also have no doubt that if WD says Jon is a straight shooter, then he is a straight shooter, as is WD himself. But WD doesn’t Labrat the wines he sells here, nor should he.
@chipgreen@kaolis For RWS, I think the point there is that Jon sells wines he can stand behind. I think he wants to describe the wine accurately so that everybody who buys it ends up happy. So for me, I ignore any hype (including Garagiste’s/Rimmerman’s!) and focus on the descriptions.
For this one, my take home from RWS is that it’s a less ripe wine, more fresh and bright than many, given the mentions of tart fruit and smoke. That helps me decide if it’s my style and to me that’s the point. And the labrat below confirms that impression.
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.
What a pleasant surprise this wine turned out to be.
I wasn’t familiar with Folk Machine before being handed this bottle, so I came into it with zero expectations. I opened it about two hours before pouring a glass—more due to shifting plans than any intentional strategy—and when I finally sat down with it, the whole experience was just lovely.
Right away I got ripe red fruit on both the nose and palate: strawberry, cherry, that bright Grenache charm. The Syrah shows up more quietly for me, adding a subtle savory note and rounding out the wine without taking center stage. It’s medium‑bodied with fresh acidity, a dry finish, and the kind of balance that makes it incredibly food‑friendly.
Folk Machine calls this “powerful,” and I’d gently disagree. What I loved most was how soft, approachable, and easy‑drinking it was.
A perfect Tuesday go‑with‑anything wine, but also something you could easily elevate with a beautiful weekend dinner with friends because I have a feeling it will be a crowd pleaser.
@kaolis yes in previous vintages we did mess around with different % and settled on the 50/50 as our preference. The Syrah is whole
Cluster and Grenache destemmed. Kinda always did that.
@hobowineco sorry I don’t have any questions to take advantage of you being here, but you stopping by is greatly appreciated! The information above sounds great and I’m splitting a case with a friend. Thanks for offering your wine here at a great price, hopefully we’ll continue to see you around.
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.
@chipgreen agree on rws to a point, it has been brought up here before and yes they have a relationship, but WD has stated that Jon is a pretty straight shooter, and in WD we trust right?
…but I’ve read enough of his reviews that I think there is some value, marketing aside…and quite honestly from my viewpoint I post all sorts of obscure reviews and comments and blurbs and other reviewers that work for retailers such as Wilfred and other cr*p that has no value…as they say grain of salt and fwiw
@kaolis
I truly appreciate the vast majority of the reviews you post, especially since most of the WE and WS reviews are behind paywalls, IIRC. I also have no doubt that if WD says Jon is a straight shooter, then he is a straight shooter, as is WD himself. But WD doesn’t Labrat the wines he sells here, nor should he.
@chipgreen @kaolis For RWS, I think the point there is that Jon sells wines he can stand behind. I think he wants to describe the wine accurately so that everybody who buys it ends up happy. So for me, I ignore any hype (including Garagiste’s/Rimmerman’s!) and focus on the descriptions.
For this one, my take home from RWS is that it’s a less ripe wine, more fresh and bright than many, given the mentions of tart fruit and smoke. That helps me decide if it’s my style and to me that’s the point. And the labrat below confirms that impression.
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.
Yes too bad. Rat would nice. I like lower alcohol, organic wines but many are not very tasty.
What a pleasant surprise this wine turned out to be.
I wasn’t familiar with Folk Machine before being handed this bottle, so I came into it with zero expectations. I opened it about two hours before pouring a glass—more due to shifting plans than any intentional strategy—and when I finally sat down with it, the whole experience was just lovely.
Right away I got ripe red fruit on both the nose and palate: strawberry, cherry, that bright Grenache charm. The Syrah shows up more quietly for me, adding a subtle savory note and rounding out the wine without taking center stage. It’s medium‑bodied with fresh acidity, a dry finish, and the kind of balance that makes it incredibly food‑friendly.
Folk Machine calls this “powerful,” and I’d gently disagree. What I loved most was how soft, approachable, and easy‑drinking it was.
A perfect Tuesday go‑with‑anything wine, but also something you could easily elevate with a beautiful weekend dinner with friends because I have a feeling it will be a crowd pleaser
.
@mk22 I meant to say Hobo Wine Co. calls it powerful.
Hi all.
Let me know if you have any questions about the wine. Thanks for the interest.
K and L
@HoboWineCo
Hey, welcome to the chat.
I see you are the owner, but perhaps you could elaborate a bit more than just what the notes provide.
I’ll work on getting you your
badge to identify your affiliation.
Thanks for joining in
Happy to to provide any info for sure. Any one have a question or anything specific you’d like more info on?
@HoboWineCo let’s cut to the chase…the important stuff…roast chicken wine? roast duck?
@kaolis smart. I’d say roasted anything, but if pressed …
because of the flavor profile. Nice acid too.
@HoboWineCo 4 pack summer hold to the great state of SC… did you play with other %'s before settling on 50/50? Play with whole cluster %?
@kaolis yes in previous vintages we did mess around with different % and settled on the 50/50 as our preference. The Syrah is whole
Cluster and Grenache destemmed. Kinda always did that.
@hobowineco sorry I don’t have any questions to take advantage of you being here, but you stopping by is greatly appreciated! The information above sounds great and I’m splitting a case with a friend. Thanks for offering your wine here at a great price, hopefully we’ll continue to see you around.
Ok, not a typical move for my cellar, but I’m intrigued and in for a case: foulest-gaudy-room