A new type of predator, stalking steadily through the twilight, into the violent violet purple haze; torn asunder and sewn back together again like a Frankenstein fennel, bounding with blueberry blue eggplant, deep obsidian leek, and green garlic foliage brushing against a quicksilver shimmering in its black licorice coat. Ah, but the eye cannot track its movements, so swift they are, and so opaque, fleeting as a pebble induced ripple in a hidden cistern of kefir lime and lavender tea. Thus, from beneath the decomposing oakwood and leaf mulch, down past the home of the bugs and the grubs, up wells the earthy musk of pungent truffle, working in harmony with smoked beluga lentils and roasted oxtail marrow, all of which will be summarily devoured by its most animalistic of instincts. With claws digging and scraping the thinnest of frankincense shavings, like a grey fox burrowing to make its den, it develops an exterior tough as manzanita, strong and hearty as unbroken walnut husks and celery seed, a bounty for leaner, less indulgent days when grape pomace fermented roasted leg of lamb and decadent dark chocolate mousse dessert are to be had, no more.

notes by clay selkirk, winemaker & all-around cowboy