Our wines are produced in very small quantities and quickly sell out, and are first released to our Club members.
Valenti
Vineyard, Mendocino Ridge
Valenti
Vineyard, Anderson Valley
Broken Leg Vineyard,
Anderson Valley
Perli
Vineyard, “Potato Patch Block”, Mendocino
Ridge
“Ridgeline”,
Mendocino Ridge
Syrah, Valenti Vineyard, Mendocino Ridge, 2009 |
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The Valenti Vineyard is located on the top of Greenwood Ridge, 6 miles from the ocean and 1,600 feet above sea level on a steep north-east facing slope that overlooks the Anderson Valley to the East. This is a challenging site with daily maritime winds resulting in cooler temperatures throughout the growing season. The harsh natural conditions lends itself to naturally low yields resulting in correct acidity and excellent phenological ripeness at lower sugar levels. These cool conditions result in a well structured and flavorful Syrah.
The nose has scents of anise, black pepper, bitter sweet chocolate, wild strawberries, plum and rhubarb with just a hint of game and leather. The wine splashes on the palate with flavors of roasted coffee beans and fresh dark red fruits with a saline quality that screams coastal Syrah.
91 points, Wine & Spirits
90 points Stephen Tanzer’s IWC
Download a printable version of the full winemaking and
tasting notes.
Syrah,
Valenti Vineyard,
Anderson Valley, 2008 |
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This is a classic site
for Syrah. The Valenti Vineyard is located on the top
of Greenwood Ridge, 6 miles from the ocean and 1,300 feet above sea level on a steep north-east facing slope that overlooks the Anderson Valley to the East. This is a challenging site with daily maritime winds resulting in cooler temperatures throughout the growing season. The harsh natural conditions lend themselves to naturally low yields resulting in great intensity.
The color is
a deep purple hue. The aromas consists of wild brambles,
leather, pepper, violets and blackberries
and black cherry. This wine is concentrated with coarse
tannins but restrained with a wonderful balance of
structure and fruit. This wine will continue to improve
and soften with age for ten or more years so don’t
be afraid to stash a few away in the cellar for a while.
Syrah,
Broken Leg Vineyard,
Anderson Valley, 2007 |
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Located on the North West side of Anderson Valley known
as the Deep End, this steep ridge top vineyard is located
on a radical south face approximately 800’ above
sea level and planted to two personal favorite clones,
Durell and #1. The vineyard was one of the first, if
not the first Anderson Valley Syrah vineyard planted
during the mid 70’s by Owner Steve Williams who
still farms it today. This vineyard earned its name
as Steve broke his leg there on the last day of planting
this ‘extreme’ site. He still managed to
catch his flight to France the next day for a well-earned
vacation albeit with a cast on, hence the name, ‘Broken
Leg Vineyard’.
Dark ruby red. Classy nose with scents of blackberry,
boysenberry, cherries, leather, white pepper, chocolate,
mineral and earth. The flavors consist of minerality
and earthy tones with boysenberry, chocolate and white
pepper and a hint of game. The structure is somewhat
austere now in its young age with great acidity and
soft fruit balance. This wine will be very showy in
five years but will cut though a juicy lamb chop or
rib eye steak without any problem now. Warning: Could
promote romantic tendencies!
90 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
90 points Stephen Tanzer’s IWC
Download a printable version of the full winemaking and
tasting notes.
Syrah,
“Potato Patch Block”
Perli Vineyard, Mendocino Ridge, 2007 |
SOLD OUT
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The Mendocino Ridge AVA
is an exciting newer American Viticulture Appellation
(AVA) located on the North Coast of California, just
north of the Sonoma Coast AVA. This AVA is one of the
very few designated growing areas based on proximity
to the Pacific Ocean and altitude. As such, in order
to qualify a vineyard must be approximately 13 miles
or less from the ocean and at least 1,200 feet above
sea level. It got its nickname, ‘islands in the
sky’ due to its non-contiguous nature and that
the fog line is typically at an elevation of 800’.
As members, these vineyards get more sunlight, more
intense coastal wind and more rain and are typically
on very steep slopes. This all translates into intense
wines with great structure and complexity!
This wine is comprised
of one very radical, ridge-top vineyard. The Perli Vineyard
is 12 miles from the ocean and is perched at 2,200 feet
above sea level on a very thin and steep east facing
slope.
The color is a deep purple
hue. The nose is generous with aromas of violets, blue
berries, fresh cracked pepper and a hint of game. The
flavors are seductive with wild fruits, game, black
cherries. The structure is great too with balanced tannins
and acidity. Will age 10-15+ years. Great with leg of
lamb or anything barbecued!
88 points, Robert Parker's
Wine Advocate
91 points Stephen Tanzer’s IWC
Download a printable version of the full winemaking and
tasting notes.
Syrah,
Ridgeline,
Mendocino Ridge, 2006 |
SOLD OUT
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The Mendocino Ridge AVA is an exciting
new AVA in California located on the North Coast just
north of the Sonoma Coast AVA. This newer AVA is one
of the very few in American AVA’s based on proximity
to the Pacific Ocean and altitude.
The nose has aromas of hard cherry candy, floral spice
and fresh black pepper with a core of ripe blood plums.
The flavors are seductive with wild berry fruits with
black cherries and mocha notes with hints of carpaccio.
The structure has terrific balance with firm tannins
making for a long and consistent finish.
Download a printable version of the full winemaking and
tasting notes.
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