LOV Letter

Strange but Interesting Harvest

Every year we hope for a normal harvest, but the only thing we get is proof that there is no such thing as a “normal” harvest. This year everything was late in the first half, and then we kept waiting for the rest to get ripe. Some did, some didn’t, and some barely made it. The villain is the coolest fall we have had in recent memory. We have Pinot Noir from a new vineyard in the Santa Rita appellation that I am very hopeful about. Our Sauvignon Blanc, which is always very good, seems to be the best that I can remember. The Cabernet and Merlot are also fine. In tasting room news we have recently released new vintages of Riesling and Port. Wines that are in short supply are the Reserve Chardonnay, and the Cabernet Franc. Coming in the late winter, we will be releasing some new wines to add a little bit of variety to our lineup. We will have a new variety in Tempranillo. This is the best variety of Spain, prominent in the fine wines from Rioja and Ribera. We made just a little bit last year as an experiment, but we have made more this year and hope to make it a permanent addition. We have a Reserve wine called Mille Delices that is a Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Soon we will have a non-Reserve version that is very similar, although the emphasis will be on the Cabernet Franc. Eventually, we will add a Reserve version of Cabernet Franc to the list. Art White

This Month’s Wines

Once again you are receiving two red wines. The two wines we are sending are considered by many to be the two best red wine varieties in the world. They are Pinot Noir (Burgundy) and Cabernet Sauvignon (Bordeaux). The Pinot Noir is the 2003 from Careaga Canyon and is always delicious. It has great flavors reminiscent of cherry and cassis, as well as the vanilla-like sweetness that comes from the large percentage of new oak we use. There is not a lot of this wine left, and as always seems to be the case, it is very popular at the moment. The Cabernet Sauvignon is the 2000 vintage from the Valley View vineyard. This vineyard has been producing our finest Cabernets for many years and is also the source of our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Enjoy.

2003~ Careaga Canyon Vineyard ~ Santa Barbara County

PINOT NOIR

The cool regions of Santa Barbara County are as good as any in the world for growing Pinot Noir grapes. The challenge to the grower and the winemaker is to live up to this potential. We think this is another edition that passes the test and hope that you will agree. The bright cherry and black currant aromas on the nose follow through completely on the palate where they are joined by the sweet vanilla richness from the fifty percent new oak barrels. The wine is not as high in alcohol as the previous vintage, but the balance from the bright acidity produces a really clean finish. I love Pinot Noir with lamb, but find it a very versatile red wine that can accommodate everything from garlic pasta sauces to Thanksgiving turkey to filet mignon. Drinking very well right now. About 150 cases made.

2000 ~ Valley View Vineyard ~ Santa Ynez Valley ~ Santa Barbara County

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the great red wine varieties native to the Bordeaux region of France. In its native region it is almost always blended, frequently with Cabernet Franc and sometimes with Merlot or both. In California, it is more common to find wines, such as this one, which are one hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a rich, robust, traditional Cabernet. It is very intense, especially on the nose, where spiciness and woodiness from the oak barrels join aromas of cassis. The twenty-two months of barrel aging this wine received has muted some of the individual flavors, while at the same time marrying them into a complexity of blended flavors and vanilla from the oak. There is a richness to the flavors on the palate that makes this wine particularly inviting. 420 cases made.