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$23.99
Sourced from certified organic vineyards.
Transparent dark ruby color. Richer and spicier than the 2008 bottling, showing darker fruits. Some Read More...
Transparent dark ruby color. Richer and spicier than the 2008 bottling, showing darker fruits. Some Read More...
smoke notes. Still maintains a lighter, feminine feel in the mouth.
$45.99
Winery's Tasting Notes: This spectacular and challenging site consistently delivers fruit that we find particularly compelling and difficult to describe. Very steep slopes Read More...
of botella clay, diatomite and limestone planted to a quintet of pinot noir clones with diverse spacing.
"Raspberry, dried orange peel and spicy aromatics set the stage for the flavors of rhubarb, dried cherry and damp earth which follow. Extremely elegant and noble mouth feel supported by fine tannins and restrained richness. 864 cases produced."
"Raspberry, dried orange peel and spicy aromatics set the stage for the flavors of rhubarb, dried cherry and damp earth which follow. Extremely elegant and noble mouth feel supported by fine tannins and restrained richness. 864 cases produced."
$38.99
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 92 POINTS - "Brewer Clifton’s 2010 Chardonnay Gnesa is intense in its color and flavors. This is a decidedly big, broad-Read More...
shouldered wine with plenty of acidity to back up the rich, vivid fruit. Apricots, nectarine, almonds, flowers and spices flesh out on the generous, inviting finish. The western and southern borders of this site are adjacent to the Pacific Ocean. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016."
$41.95
Greg Brewer is one of the more talented and soft-spoken winemakers in Santa Barbara County. When his talented hand isn't making the wines at Brewer-Clifton and Melville Wineries, Read More...
he is crafting the Diatom wines...his own label! The Diatom wines are 100% fermented and aged in stainless steel. Fermentation is carried out at a very cold temperature to retain the most primary attributes of the fruit. Furthermore, malo-lactic is inhibited to avoid the distraction of that secondary level of evolution. The resultant wine is then aged on its non-disturbed lees for health and protection, and removed just before there is any risk of autolysis which could impart nondesirable yeast-like characteristics into the wine.
Greg's Tasting Notes: "Kazaoto is a reference to the turbulent nature of wind noise. The intimate geographic relationship between our appellation and the ocean results in afternoon growing conditions consistently marked by pronounced winds. This scenario is exaggerated in this particular vineyard where the deafening voice of the sea not only stresses and toughens the vines, but also the crew who tirelessly endures its relentless and frequently severe impact. The soil is pure sand which further transmits the crystalline clarity and sincerity of chardonnay grown in what is for me the most intriguing site for this grape in the Sta. Rita Hills.
"Chalk, smoke, mint and lemon bar aromatics explode out of the glass followed by flavors of lime skin, agave and minerals. On the palate the wine is incisive, gripping and dry with an incredible lingering saline impression."
Greg's Tasting Notes: "Kazaoto is a reference to the turbulent nature of wind noise. The intimate geographic relationship between our appellation and the ocean results in afternoon growing conditions consistently marked by pronounced winds. This scenario is exaggerated in this particular vineyard where the deafening voice of the sea not only stresses and toughens the vines, but also the crew who tirelessly endures its relentless and frequently severe impact. The soil is pure sand which further transmits the crystalline clarity and sincerity of chardonnay grown in what is for me the most intriguing site for this grape in the Sta. Rita Hills.
"Chalk, smoke, mint and lemon bar aromatics explode out of the glass followed by flavors of lime skin, agave and minerals. On the palate the wine is incisive, gripping and dry with an incredible lingering saline impression."
$49.95
Fiddlestix is a renowned, expertly farmed, vineyard at the cool western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. The early morning fog and cool afternoon breezes provide a long, even Read More...
growing season, which allows full phenolic maturity at reasonable sugar levels. In 2011 Dragonette obtained fruit from four separate blocks, consisting of clones 113, 115, 667 and 777 in precise locations in the vineyard. Each clone contributes unique characteristics, adding complexity to the final blend; however, the wines all bear the signature characteristics of Fiddlestix.
As always, the grapes were harvested in the early morning (or night), and are personally hand sorted the clusters in the field. Dragonette processed the fruit within hours; some is fully destemmed without crushing, some is fermented with a percentage of whole clusters (approximately 15-20% of the final blend). The grapes are cold soaked for 4 to 7 days before permitting fermentation to commence with native yeasts, and using a mixture of pigage, pumpovers and gentle punchdowns for extraction. A t dryness, free run juice was drained directly to barrel and the remaining berries gently pressed separately. The wine was aged on its lees for 18 months in French oak barrels, 25% new, without racking, before rigorous selection, blending and bottling without fining or filtration. Only 300 cases were produced.
Dragonette's Tasting Notes: Despite its youth, this wine already displays terrific depth and complexity within its medium bodied frame. The nose is a mélange of high toned red fruits; black cherry, raspberry and pomegranate, interspersed with smoky notes of charcoal, nori and black licorice and Asian spices of cardamom and star anise. On the palate is medium bodied, presenting classic Santa Rita Hills black cherry fruit with notes of dried cranberry, rhubarb, strawberry jam, complicated by energetic citrus notes of blood orange zest and pomegranate pith which then merge with herbs (thyme), wet earth and stony minerals. The wine has solid acids and fine grained tannins providing lift and a long, complex and fascinating finish.
As always, the grapes were harvested in the early morning (or night), and are personally hand sorted the clusters in the field. Dragonette processed the fruit within hours; some is fully destemmed without crushing, some is fermented with a percentage of whole clusters (approximately 15-20% of the final blend). The grapes are cold soaked for 4 to 7 days before permitting fermentation to commence with native yeasts, and using a mixture of pigage, pumpovers and gentle punchdowns for extraction. A t dryness, free run juice was drained directly to barrel and the remaining berries gently pressed separately. The wine was aged on its lees for 18 months in French oak barrels, 25% new, without racking, before rigorous selection, blending and bottling without fining or filtration. Only 300 cases were produced.
Dragonette's Tasting Notes: Despite its youth, this wine already displays terrific depth and complexity within its medium bodied frame. The nose is a mélange of high toned red fruits; black cherry, raspberry and pomegranate, interspersed with smoky notes of charcoal, nori and black licorice and Asian spices of cardamom and star anise. On the palate is medium bodied, presenting classic Santa Rita Hills black cherry fruit with notes of dried cranberry, rhubarb, strawberry jam, complicated by energetic citrus notes of blood orange zest and pomegranate pith which then merge with herbs (thyme), wet earth and stony minerals. The wine has solid acids and fine grained tannins providing lift and a long, complex and fascinating finish.
$29.99
The Foley 2010 Pinot Noir opens with enticing aromas of dark berries, chocolate and toasty oak. The palate is laced with herries, blackberries, vanilla and lavender. This is a rich, Read More...
fleshy wine held together with a solid backbone of silky tannins and firm natural acidity. It drinks beautifully with duck, turkey, grilled meats and salmon.
$24.99
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"Ripe cherry cider, rhubarb, spice and wild berry fruit flavors, it's elegantly styled, with fine balance, ending with ripe, supple tannins."
$17.99
Lafond is located in the Santa Rita Hills region of Santa Barbara County, an ideal environment for growing intensely flavored, full-bodied Chardonnay. This AVA is distinguished Read More...
by a very cool and long growing season created by a convergence of unusual geography in this part of California. It is not uncommon to see high scores given to Chardonnays that are more modest in pricepoint from this region. A blend of fruit from two neighboring vineyards to Lafond, the 2010 Chardonnay "SRH" is Winemaker Bruce McGuire's selection to showcase the ripe, concentrated Chardonnay for which the Santa Rita Hills AVA is known.
WINE SPECTATOR 92 POINTS - "Fresh and vibrant, with complex lemon meringue, honeysuckle, melon, graham cracker and green fig flavors. Full-bodied, focused and persistent. Drink now through 2017."
WINE SPECTATOR 92 POINTS - "Fresh and vibrant, with complex lemon meringue, honeysuckle, melon, graham cracker and green fig flavors. Full-bodied, focused and persistent. Drink now through 2017."
$25.99
This is a great follow up to their Chardonnay we featured last year! Located in the western Santa Ynez Valley, the Santa Rita Hills enjoys a long growing season with warm daytime temperatures Read More...
moderated by cooling ocean breezes. Chad Melville manages the vineyards and his attention to detail and how the vines progress throughout the growing season gives winemaker Greg Brewer (also of Brewer-Clifton fame) everything he needs to create one of the best quality-to-price Pinot Noirs out of Santa Barbara County!
WINE SPECTATOR 92 POINTS - "Tight and fresh, with vivid wild berry and raspberry that's pure and spicy, with a stemmy edge, yet it works well, as the fruit density and tannins fold together in a pleasing way. Drink now through 2022."
WINE SPECTATOR 92 POINTS - "Tight and fresh, with vivid wild berry and raspberry that's pure and spicy, with a stemmy edge, yet it works well, as the fruit density and tannins fold together in a pleasing way. Drink now through 2022."
$21.95
This wine is 100% from Melville's Sta. Rita Hills estate and is a combination of clones 4, 76, 95, and selections Mount Eden, Hanzell and Wente. It is their core Chardonnay and comes Read More...
predominantly from their west side vineyards that have several different types of sandy soils. Because the west side receives the brunt of brutal ocean-winds and has only poor soils, we feel this Chardonnay always captures the vibrancy, minerality and concentrated flavors that are hallmarks of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Yields were 4.2 tons/acre. White-gold in color and with great delineation, this bottling reminds us of lemon verbena, yellow cucumber, chalk and grilled pineapple. Other intriguing aromas drift towards star anise, salt-water taffy, white currants, sage and hazelnut. The wine attacks the palate with its acidity finishing with great weight wrapping continuously around your palate.
$46.99
Comprised of clones 114 and 115, Carrie’s 4.9 acres sits on the mesa contiguous with the Terraces’ sections.The vines from Carrie’s produce deeply concentrated and focused fruit.
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The darkest and most powerful of Melville's small lot collection Pinot Noirs, the Carrie's bottling is layered with richness. Cool notes of rosemary, ginger, and exotic tea leaf are intertwined with the warmth of ripe persimmon, mulberry and holiday spice. Savory notes of tamari, applewood, uni and plum play with perfumed white flower and juniper. The palate impression is generous and complete and finishes with significant texture and weight. 60% whole cluster.
$46.99
From the west side of Melville's estate, the three undulating slopes of Terraces lie completely exposed to the elements facing severe wind pressure, several sun exposures and challenging Read More...
drainage issues. This 4.9 acre block is planted on clay loam and limestone soils wrapping 120° around Carrie’s block. Five clones: Swan, Mount Eden, 115, 667 and 777, form a unique combination of old California Selections and newer dijonnaise clonal material.
Dark crimson in color, aromas of juniper, green peppercorn and gingerbread immediately emerge from the glass. As the wine opens, intriguing spice and herbal notes of cumin, tarragon, white pepper and mint are revealed. The mouth feel is aggressive while possessing grace and finesse with a savory, lingering finish. 100% whole cluster.
Dark crimson in color, aromas of juniper, green peppercorn and gingerbread immediately emerge from the glass. As the wine opens, intriguing spice and herbal notes of cumin, tarragon, white pepper and mint are revealed. The mouth feel is aggressive while possessing grace and finesse with a savory, lingering finish. 100% whole cluster.
$34.99
WINE ADVOCATE - "The 2009 Pinot Noir Ashley's is a big super-ripe wine endowed with dark fruit, cola, sweet spices, vanilla and sweet French oak, Read More...
all of which come together nicely. Ashley’s is made in a decidedly forward, flashy style and the oak (50% new barrels) is also a bit much for the wine’s structure. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021.”
$22.99
WINE ENTHUSIAST 90 - "Fantastically ripe and oaky, a Chardonnay that just swamps the palate with wave after wave of pineapple jam, tangerine tart, Read More...
apricot pie filling and sweet butterscotch and vanilla flavors. All this richness fortunately is balanced with crisp acidity and a fine tang of minerals."
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