Winemaker Comments

Jespersen Ranch Vineyard is visible from the winery. In the northwest corner of the Edna Valley AVA, this site brings the best out of Grenache. Beautiful dark, dense ruby in color, crystal clear, the wine presents abundant dark berry aromas, black tea, subtle cedar and bay, with just enough oak to hint at its French barrel aging. On the mouth, the integrated acid and tannin structure let you know this is

Winemaker Comments

Dante Dusi Vineyard, in the Templeton Gap, was planted in 1945; the vines are head-trained and dry farmed. This is a beautifully structured and food friendly Zinfandel. It has a vibrant deep ruby red color. The wine is very open and aromatic with raspberry, lavender, and sage notes in the nose. It is nicely balanced on the palate with moderate alcohol, bright flavors, fine tannins and lingering red berry fruit.

Winemaker Comments

We also produce this small label, Flying Cloud. The name Flying Cloud comes from the small airport, Eden Prairie, in Stephen’s home state of Minnesota. The wine is brilliant and clear to the eye with a concentrated ruby red color. The aromas are a fruit forward delivery of blackberry pastilles, dark cherry, allspice and a tiny waft of cedar. It drinks nicely with a rich mid-palate, good acidity and finishes with fine tannins.

Grape Varieties

• Zinfandel

Winemaker Comments

The 2012 growing season was warmer than average; it yielded wines with ripe fruit flavors, and a good balance of sugar and acidity. This wine has a deep garnet color and is just transparent enough to see through. The nose offers an array of aromas reminiscent of cranberry, forest floor, allspice and cherries. It is quite full on the palate, rich and flavorful with lingering spicy cranberry flavors.

Grape Varieties

• Pinot Noir

Winemaker Comments

Bien Nacido is in the famed Santa Maria Valley. Our Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir has a deep dense ruby crimson color, and is transparent to the eye. The nose shows lovely aromas of red fruits, raspberry, and violets. This is a full rich wine with silky, creamy textures and spicy notes of white pepper and juniper.

Press & Reviews

• 92 Points - Wine Enthusiast 2015

Winemaker Comments

The wine is quite concentrated in terms of color and flavor, no doubt a consequence of the ongoing drought. The wine has a deep ruby garnet color. The nose is abundant in blueberry and plum aromas, with hints of nutmeg spiciness from the French oak. It is medium bodied wine with impeccable balance, moderate acidity, very fine tannins, and a voluptuous rich finish.

Winemaker Comments

Classic Burgundian winemaking methods were used in making this wine; barrel fermentation, malolactic fermentation, lees stirring, and sur lies aging for nine months in French oak barrels. This is a ripe, rich Chardonnay showing hints of French oak and soft acidity. To the eye the wine is brilliant, clear and straw in color. The nose has spicy nutmeg, brioche, crusty baguette and fruit notes like fresh apples and cantaloupe melon. It is full and rich on the palate with lots of flavor, hints of lemon zest and baked apple pie, finishing with silky textures.

Press & Reviews

• 92 Points - Wine Enthusiast 2014

Winemaker Comments

Sierra Madre Vineyard lies in the cool growing region of the Santa Maria Valley. This small lot Pinot Gris was fermented cold and aged in stainless steel. The wine is a brilliant, clear, pale straw color. The wine has fresh citrus aromas of lemon zest, tart apples, almond and pear; supported by a firm mineral structure and finishes with crisp acidity.

Grape Varieties

• Pinot Noir

Winemaker Comments

Stone Corral is our estate vineyard, east facing in the Edna Valley. Coupling the warm, pleasant growing season with low yields in the vineyard, the wine is a dark ruby color, brilliantly clear, exuding aromas of Bing cherry, cranberry, forest floor, clove, and rose petals. The mouth has smooth tannins, plenty of dark fruit, spice, and coffee from the judicious use of new French oak barrels for aging.

Press & Reviews

• 92 Point - Wine Enthusiast 2015

Grape Varieties

• Pinot Noir

Winemaker Comments

Chorro Creek Vineyard is located between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay in a very cool part of a valley that becomes the Edna Valley more inland. The vineyard was planted in 2001 to Dijon and Swiss clones of Pinot Noir. Perfectly clear and ruby red in color, the wine has fantastic acid with notes of cherry, cranberry, allspice, dark chocolate and sage, and youthful yet silky tannins. The finish is long, clean and full of spice.

Press & Reviews

• 92 Points - Wine Enthusiast 2015

Grape Varieties

• Pinot Noir

Winemaker Comments

Our Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir is a pretty ruby garnet color and transparent to the eye. The aromas are reminiscent of Bing cherry and raspberry, with hints of sage. This is a pretty wine with a wonderful Pinot Noir expression. It is easy on the palate and finishes with fine silky tannins.

Press & Reviews

• 90 Points - Wine Enthusiast 2015

Grape Varieties

• Chardonnay

Winemaker Comments

Classic Burgundian winemaking methods were used in making this wine; grapes with high acidity, barrel fermented, full malolactic fermentation, and sur lies aging for nine months. The wine has a brilliant pale straw color. This is a highly aromatic Chardonnay with pronounced brioche, coconut, pear and hazelnut. The mouth is equally impressive: rich full mid-palate, creamy, yummy, with lingering flavors of orchard fruits and spicy oak.

Press & Reviews

• 91 Point - Wine Enthusiast 2014

Grape Varieties

• Albarino

Winemaker Comments

Albarino is special for its mid-palate rich texture and crisp finish. The wine is brilliant in appearance with light straw hues and aromas of pear, apple, cantaloupe, and grapefruit. The wine is bone dry yet refreshing with its tropical notes and orange blossom showing on the finish.