2021 SYMPHONIe DU SOLEIL
Retail: $35
| GRAPE BLEND & SOURCE | 39% Viognier, 31% Picpoul Blanc, 15% Grenache Blanc, and 15% Roussanne La Presa, Nolan, Valley View, and Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards |
| TECHNICAL SPECS | pH: 3.57 Acidity: 5.3g/L Alcohol: 13.6% 9 months in 50% new/50% neutral oak |
| TASTING NOTES | Delicate aromas of ripe apricots, white peach, and fresh pears with hints of vanilla and cloves, and a floral undercurrent. Minerality on the palate with character of ripe pears, lemongrass, Pink Lady apples, and key lime pie leading to a silky finish with a touch of acidity. |
| WINEMAKING | The four varietals for the 2021 Symphonie Du Soleil Rhone-style blend were hand harvested from four different vineyards on different dates in two AVAs in Santa Barbara County (Santa Ynez Valley, and Alisos Canyon). Our team whole cluster pressed the juice into stainless steel tanks each date the fruit arrived. The juice was inoculated 1-3 days after pressing. The wines were blended together on January 19, 2022 and aged in 50% new/50% neutral oak barrels. Our winemaker’s yeasts of choice were an assortment of Ba11, Rhone 4600, and Laffort Xymaflore VL2, which each enhance sensory notes and brighten aromas of floral, tropical, stone fruit, pear, apricot, orange rind, apple, citrus fruit. The wine was sent through malolactic fermentation to reduce the malic acid sharp acidity. The 2021 Symphonie du Soleil was bottled to 165 cases in August 2022. |
| FOOD PAIRING | Poached Sable Fish with lemon, garlic, white truffle, yellow curry spices served with grilled root veggies, carrots, and a side of garlic salt, pesto drizzled smashed rainbow-colored potatoes. |
| CELLARING | The 2021 Symphonie du Soleil can be enjoyed now and for up to an additional 2 years if stored in proper conditions. |
2020 MERLOT RESERVE, ESTATE
Retail: $70
| GRAPE BLEND & SOURCE | 100% Merlot Sunstone Estate Vineyard |
| TECHNICAL SPECS | pH: 3.76 Acidity: 5.2 g/L Alcohol: 14.3% 22 months in 20% new/80% neutral French oak |
| TASTING NOTES | Intriguing nose of fresh black plums, lilac, and espresso, with spicy notes of cumin, cloves, and turmeric in the background. Soft front palate with dark chocolate, peppercorn, and espresso giving way to subtle fruit notes of warm berry cobbler and blackberries, ending with a warm, lingering finish. |
| WINEMAKING | Our Merlot blocks A, B, C, and D were hand harvested between September 1st and 6th, 2020. Our team crushed the fruit from each of the four blocks individually and fermented using an assortment of yeast and nutrients to balance the layers as we blended the wine later in the process. After each wine was dry, they were settled and racked. Then we blended specific percentages of the four Merlot Blocks into one final blend before aging. Our final blend consisted of Merlot A Block (21%), Merlot B Block (26%), Merlot C Block (17%), Merlot D Block (34%) and to balance the characters (2%) Estate Cabernet Franc was added to bring out more black pepper notes. This wine was aged in 20% new French oak and 80% neutral oak for 22 months. Our winemaker’s yeasts of choice were D80, RC212 and BM45, which enhance sensory notes of dark berry, star anise, black pepper, and espresso, while also adding to the floral, spice and fruit aromatic balance. The wine was sent through malolactic fermentation to reduce the malic acid sharp acidity. Our 2020 Estate Merlot was bottled to 710 cases in August 2022. |
| FOOD PAIRING | Tuscan Braised Beef rubbed w/Mediterranean Herbs, Lemon Black Pepper, Garlic, and Dried Spices. Served with Savory Corn Pudding with a side of Crunchy Roasted Kale, Bacon, and Brussel Sprouts. |
| CELLARING | The 2020 Merlot Reserve, Estate can be enjoyed now and for an additional 6-12 years if stored in proper conditions. |
2020 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, SYV
Retail: $45
| GRAPE BLEND & SOURCE | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Coqulicot, Valley View and Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards |
| TECHNICAL SPECS | pH: 3.71 Acidity: 5.8 g/L Alcohol: 14.3% 22 months in 35% new French oak & 65% neutral French and American oak |
| TASTING NOTES | Bright aromas of fresh blackberries, black cherries, smoky tobacco, and crushed red pepper coupled with vegetal and spice notes. Fruit-forward front palate of dark berries, rhubarb, and black currants, with oak toast and vanilla in the middle, culminating in an extended peppery finish. |
| WINEMAKING | Our 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, SYV was hand harvested from three different vineyards in Santa Barbara County between October 5th and 14th, 2020. Our team crushed the fruit as it came in individually for separate fermentations, then pressed the fruit for each within 12-14 days of the fermentation and sent them through secondary fermentation in barrel. We blended the three wines together on June 4, 2021 and aged this final wine in 35% new French oak and 65% neutral French (50%) and American oak (15%). Our winemaker’s yeasts of choice were a combination of BM45 and D80, which originated in Italy and the Rhone valley of France respectively. BM45 is preferred by our winemaker because it influences the soft palate and roundness of the fruit, sweet spice, rose, cherry liquor, licorice, cedar, and earthy character of the wine. D80 has similarities but focuses more on the layers and pigment of the wine during the fermentation. It can enhance tannin characters of plum, spice, cherry liquor, pepper, and floral aromas as well as stabilize color from the pigment of the skins and tannins. This combination of yeasts adds a complexity of layers in our Cabernet Sauvignon blend. This wine went through malolactic fermentation to reduce the malic acid sharp acidity. It was bottled to 977 cases in August 2022. |
| FOOD PAIRING | Pepper-crusted sirloin steak with autumn vegetable hash |
| CELLARING | The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, SYV can be enjoyed now and for an additional 4-8 years if stored in proper conditions. |
2020 PINOT NOIR, SBC
Retail: $45
| GRAPE BLEND & SOURCE | 100% Pinot Noir Spear and Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards |
| TECHNICAL SPECS | pH: 3.79 Acidity: 5.6 g/L Alcohol: 13.9% 23 months in 20% new/80% neutral French oak |
| TASTING NOTES | Pleasant aromas of red apples, hibiscus, raspberry, and rhubarb along with the complexity of floral and spice notes. Soft front palate with character of white cherries, cranberries, coffee bean and cocoa, with spice and oak toast in the middle, and bright acidity on the long finish. |
| WINEMAKING | About 81% of the grapes for our 2020 Pinot Noir, SBC were hand harvested from Spear Vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills during the last weeks of September 2020. The four different clones of Pinot Noir were crushed individually and then fermented using an assortment of yeasts and nutrients to balance the layers as we blended the wine later in the process. On September 30th, we harvested the remaining 19% of Pinot Noir grapes from Lucas & Lewellen vineyard in Los Alamos Lucas. We crushed and cold soaked the grapes for three days then inoculated and fermented with BRL97 yeast for 10 days before adding the secondary bacteria. After each wine was dry, they were settled and racked. We then blended specific percentages of the four Pinot Noir clones into one blended final Pinot Noir during early May 2021. We aged this wine in 20% new French oak barrels and 80% neutral Oak. In addition to BRL97 yeast, our winemaker also incorporated RA17 and BM45 yeasts which enhance sensory notes of Bing cherry, licorice, black pepper, anise, and espresso essence to the characters of the Pinot Noir clones for a more aromatic balance. The wine was sent through malolactic fermentation to reduce the malic acid sharp acidity. Our Pinot Noir was bottled to 418 cases in August 2022. |
| FOOD PAIRING | Smoked Turkey with bourbon orange glaze with Smoked Paprika, Sweet Potatoes Au Gratin, and Pear Pomegranate Arugula Grilled Goat Cheese Salad |
| CELLARING | The 2020 Pinot Noir, SBC can be enjoyed now and for the next 4-8 years if stored in optimal conditions. |
2020 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, ESTATE
Retail: $70
| GRAPE BLEND & SOURCE | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Sunstone Estate Vineyard |
| TECHNICAL SPECS | pH: 3.83 Acidity: 5.2 g/L Alcohol: 13.2% 22 months in 30% new/70% neutral French oak |
| TASTING NOTES | Distinctive aromas of fresh figs, dusty mushrooms, and black currants, accented by notes of tobacco, Five-spice, cocoa nibs, and oak toast. Well balanced on the palate with dry, integrated tannins, abundant dark berries, and crushed peppercorns, with toasted almonds on the finish. |
| WINEMAKING | Our 2020 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were hand-harvested on October 16th, 2020. Our team crushed the fruit into a small tank for fermentation, then pressed the fruit 10 days later as it was dry and sent through secondary fermentation in barrel and aged in barrels (30% new French oak, and 70% neutral oak). Our winemaker’s yeast of choice was D80 which enhances tannin characters of plum, spice, cherry liquor, pepper, and floral aromas as well as stabilizes color from the pigment of the skins and tannins. Our Cabernet Sauvignon was sent through malolactic fermentation to reduce the malic acid sharp acidity. It was bottled to 145 cases in August 2022. |
| FOOD PAIRING | Braised Lamb Shank w/Au Jus, over, Mushroom Parmesan Risotto |
| CELLARING | The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate can be enjoyed now and for an additional 8-15 years if stored in proper conditions. |
2020 Cabernet FranC RESERVE
Retail: $65
| GRAPE BLEND & SOURCE | 100% Cabernet Franc Pear Valley Vineyard, Paso Robles |
| TECHNICAL SPECS | pH: 3.85 Acidity: 5.3 g/L Alcohol: 13.9% 23 months in 30% new/70% neutral French oak |
| TASTING NOTES | Satisfying aromas of candied almonds, blackberries, and cherry liqueur, with abundant floral, herbal and spice notes. Balanced from start to finish, with black cherry, coffee bean, fig balsamic, and spice character interspersed throughout the palate. |
| WINEMAKING | The grapes for our 2020 Cabernet Franc Reserve were hand harvested from Pear Valley Vineyard in Paso Robles on September 24th, 2020. Our team crushed the fruit into an open top tank for fermentation. Ten days later it was a dry wine, then pressed, settled, and sent through secondary fermentation in barrel. The wine was aged in 30% new French oak and 70% neutral oak barrels. Our winemaker’s yeast of choice was BM45 which is preferred because it influences the soft palate and roundness of the fruit, sweet spice, and rose - cherry liquor, licorice, cedar, and earthy elements of the wines characters. The wine was sent through malolactic fermentation to reduce the malic acid sharp acidity. Our 2020 Cabernet Franc was bottled to 482 cases on August 12th. 2022, after aging 23 months. |
| FOOD PAIRING | Costa Rican Picadillo De Papa Style Tortilla Wrap, including, Potatoes, Slow Shredded Cooked Beef w/added plantains. Serve with Shredded Multicolored Cabbage, Carrots and Pineapple. |
| CELLARING | The 2020 Cabernet Franc Reserve can be enjoyed now and for the next 4-8 years if stored in optimal conditions. |