2021 Enkidu Humbaba: Outstanding Value, Outstanding Quality

About Enkidu 

When you look at a bottle of Enkidu wine, the first thing that jumps out is the name on the label. Unless you’re a scholar of the Classics, and let’s be honest, not many of us are, there is a good chance you would need to look up the name ‘Endiku.’

‘Enkidu’ holds a lot of meaning for winemaker Philip Steahle, who founded Enkidu Wines in 2003. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, an epic poem written in Mesopotamia between 2100 – 1200 BC, ‘Enkidu’ was the protector of animals and a steward to the land. In the span of the poem, Enkidu undergoes a transformation that takes him from rough-around-the-edges and timid to refined and “finished” like a polished stone. 

The story reminds Philip of the process wine grapes undergo as they go from seed, to vine, to barrel, and finally to bottle. Throughout the winemaking process, Philip always has an eye on that transformative metaphor.

Winemaker: Phillip Staehle 

Like so many other great winemakers we profile, Philip started out at UC Davis, but he wasn’t part of the school’s illustrious viticulture program. Philip was actually planning on majoring in political science and pre-law. At that point in his life, wine was just a hobby. But wouldn’t you know it, Philip got wind of a winemaking class on campus, signed up, and discovered that he wanted to make his hobby into a brand new life.

Learning Winemaking from the Best

After completing his studies at UC Davis, Philip landed at the Chalone Group, which was headed by Richard Graff, the famous California vintner who introduced malolactic fermentation to white wines in the US. Graff’s family famously purchased the Chalone Vineyard in the 60s, about a decade before the winery’s Chardonnay gained acclaim at the Judgment of Paris.

With Richard as his mentor, Philip had a front-row seat to some serious wine knowledge.

The Enkidu Wine Portfolio

In addition to this red blend, Enkidu makes a dry rose, Grenache Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Grenache, a single vineyard Petite Sirah, Syrah, Mourvedre, and a port. When selecting grapes for his wines, Philip is an ardent supporter of small, family-owned vineyards engaged in sustainable farming practices. In a recent interview, he said,

“If there’s a vineyard completely devoid of any cover crop, it usually means they’re using pesticides and fertilizer to control their production. That is not something I’m interested in nor is it something that would fly here in Sonoma County in terms of that kind of production. It’s easier for me to find the right kind of vineyard because I’m smaller. For example, I don’t need to go out and buy 200 tonnes of Grenache Blanc. I only need 2 tonnes so I can get it from a grower that is doing it the right way; I’m not forced to compromise.”