Wine Locator

Winemaker Notes:An early budbreak coupled with a very warm growing season allowed for full Cab maturity in the third week of September.  The 2022 Cab harvest was not only 4 weeks earlier than average, but that the fruit came into the winery three weeks before our Chardonnay.

Maturation: A combination of 25% new French oak, 40% neutral French oak was used.

Tasting Notes: Inviting warm aromas featuring notes of violets, pomegranate, herbes de Provence, cedar, and baker’s chocolate. A soft mouthfeel with supple and concentrated flavors of plum, cherry cola and blackberry pie filling, all supported by melting, dusty tannins. Pair with baked feta and plum tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and served over pasta.

Vineyard Sourcing: Sourced from sustainably farmed, SIP certified vineyards in Paso Robles.

Winemaker Notes: The Merlot from this vineyard is exceptional in specific vintages, needing minimal intervention. This is one of those exceptional vintages with only a hint of Malbec included for color. The strength of Merlot shines in cooler regions like Margarita Vineyard, one of the coolest locations in the Paso AVA.​

Maturation: 16 months in 22% New French barrels, the balance in neutral French barrels.​

Tasting Notes: Pronounced aromas of ripe cherry, plum, black olive, and baking spices set the stage for a lush and velvety mouthfeel. Dark bramble flavors and hints of licorice are complemented by a delicate thread of acidity. The robust yet melting tannins make this wine a versatile match for dishes like rustic ratatouille, or hearty coq au vin. 

Vineyard Sourcing: Sourced from sustainably farmed, SIP certified vineyards in San Luis Obispo County, within the Santa Margarita Ranch AVA.

Acclaim: 95 points, Wine Enthusiast

Vineyard Details: Almost equal parts Santa Margarita Ranch Vineyard block 49 and Hastings Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon from high up in the Adelaida hills. These are complimented with Willow Creek district’s Grosso-Kresser Vineyard Cab and a small amount of Casagrande Vineyard Cab from the far west side of the Adelaida district. Cabernet Franc rom Hastings Ranch Vineyard rounds out the blend.

Winemaker Notes: All grapes in this blend were hand-picked in the middle of the night between October 10th and October 26th. Each lot was fermented in small, one-ton fermentation bins and punched down by hand twice a day until they reached 5% sugar at which point punch down frequency changed to once a day until dry and the cap dropped.

Maturation: The wines were aged in a mix of new French oak barrels (30%) along with a smaller number of new French/American hybrid barrels (10%). French neutral barrels were used for the balance. Wines were racked twice during ageing with final blending during the second racking at one year.

Tasting Notes: “This is a complex expression, thanks in part to the 11% Cabernet Franc. Aromas of roasted plum, chocolate, mahogany and black olive recall a wooden booth in a classic bar. The palate hits with acid and then a tannic bite, offering strawberry, chai and mace flavors that are lively while rich. Tannins cling on for an extended finish, offering licorice spice to say goodbye.” — Matt Kettmann, Wine Enthusiast

Winemaker Notes: 2022 was a year marked by extremes in both temperature and crop size. Three weeks of +100° weather post-veraison led to an early harvest. Frost at budbreak and rain during flowering led to a crop size that was about 40%-50% of normal. The key was to hang the berries on the vine until right before raisining occurred. The result was small, intense grapes out of which made a small quantity of  nice wines. ​

Maturation: 17 months in a combination of 65% neutral French oak, 20% new American and 15% new French oak.​

Tasting Notes: Ripe red fruit aromas greet your nose, followed by notes of cherry cobbler, and baking spices. Flavors of black currant, star anise, and plum preserves melt into soft hints of warm cedar wood and earthy tobacco leaf. Medium tannins and a long finish, make this wine the perfect pairing for portabella mushroom burgers with an aromatic chimichurri, or a gorgeous partner to a grilled rib-eye with pomme frites.

Winemaker Notes: The Central Coast AVA experienced a mild growing season in 2022, after a late April frost damaged some primary buds and reduced harvest size. The mild growing season was beneficial for extended hangtime later in the season, and rich phenolic development. ​

Oak Regimen: 30% New French Oak, Balance in stainless steel.  ​

Tasting Note: Tropical aromas of ripe pineapple and vanilla cream greet the nose, while flavors of toasted oak combine with fresh apple crumble to deliver a bright balanced finish. Beautiful with seafood, light pasta dishes, and spicy Southeast Asian cuisine.