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Acclaim: 90 points, Tasting Panel Magazine

Winemaker Notes: The vast majority of this wine hails from Blocks 42 and 40 up in the Truesdale Vineyard, grown alongside grapes used by other world-class wineries. The Merlot and Malbec come from the famed Santa Margarita Ranch on the southern border of Paso Robles.

Maturation: The wines spent 18 months in almost 40% new French and American oak.

Tasting Notes: Big blast of cedar, cigar box, and blackberry aromas with hints of olive. Jam-packed flavors of plum, black olive, and dark chocolate. Big, dusty tannins support the seamless mouthfeel and a delicate core of acidity stretches out the finish.

Acclaim: 90 points and Editors’ Choice, Wine Enthusiast

Winemaker Notes: 2019 was a terribly small harvest. The massive bounty from the previous year took a toll on the vines and consequently less fruit was produced. Higher acids and bright flavors are the predominant characteristics of this vintage.

Maturation: 15 months in 14% New French barrels, balance in neutral French barrels.

Tasting Notes: Color of a fresh, young Bordeaux. The nose is particularly complex with aromas of cocoa dust, cedar, tobacco, ripe boysenberry, and freshly cut herbs. Flavors are black cherry cola, rhubarb pie filling, with a little black pepper. The tannins are soft and supple as you’d expect with a cool-climate Merlot. Serious acidity keeps the flavors elevated for what seems like forever.

Acclaim: 92 points, Wine Enthusiast; 91 points, Vinous

Vineyard Details: Our vineyards have decades-old vines planted in calcium rich and high pH soils whose dramatic complexity are derived from epochs of continental plate activity that contribute to the end- result of low-yielding, perfectly balanced fruit. Sixty- eight percent of this year’s fruit comes from block 48 and 49 in the hills at Santa Margarita Ranch and thirty-two percent comes from the Paso Robles Willow Creek District.

Winemaker Notes: Exceptionally complex nose with layers of leather, spice, black currant, nutmeg, and blackberry. Rich flavors of plum, black cherry, black olive, and Oolong tea. Dense and deep, this wine will continue to open up for hours, revealing complex aromas and flavors for those patient enough to decant. A serious wine that will evolve as the night goes on.

Maturation: The Margarita Vineyard and the Willow Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, along with the Petit Verdot, were kept in separate barrel lots for eighteen months, at which point the wines were racked out of barrel, blended, and put back to barrel for another six months to “marry”. We utilized around forty percent brand new French oak barrels comprised primarily of Nevers oak along with some Vosges/ Tronçais blends. The barrels were three-year air dried with medium-plus toast along with untoasted heads for mouthfeel.

Winemaker Notes: By virtue of its isolated location, Santa Margarita Ranch enjoys a protected location desirable for Cabernet growing. Harvest commenced on November 9th and finished up three days later. The small quantity of Petit Verdot we used was harvested at the same time. Fermented wines were all taken from the tank and placed in once-used French oak barrels for 16 months before being transferred out, blended, and bottled.

Maturation: 16 months in a combination of one-year old French oak barrels.

Tasting Notes: Compelling aromas of blackberry and dark cherry are framed by hints of cassis and cedar. At first sip, flavors of blackcurrant and plum shine through, leading to notes of vanilla bean and a subtle hint of leather. The fine-grained tannins are supported by a balanced acidity that carries over through a lingering, flavorful finish.

Acclaim: 90 points and Editors’ Choice, Wine Enthusiast

Winemaker Notes: Our Edna Valley Chardonnay came off the vine in late September as did our Truesdale vineyard component. Both were fermented in tank and transitioned to 30% new French and 8% new American oak post-fermentation. Our Margarita Ranch Chardonnay was picked mid-October being the coolest of the three vineyard sites that year. This wine was fermented in and stayed in stainless steel with no oak the entire time to maintain a crisp acidity and purity of fruit.

Tasting Note: Aromas of fresh lemon, pineapple and a hint of vanilla bean create a rich, enticing nose. On the palate, notes of white peach, apricot and apple are complemented by a silky, smooth texture, along with a vibrant acidity that carries the flavors through a lingering finish.