2009 Riesling, Monterey $19.00

This is a single vineyard Riesling from an own-rooted 35 year old vineyard perched high on an east-facing slope of the Santa Lucia Highlands. The mild, mostly sunny growing conditions of the 2009 season produced perfectly ripe and sound grapes which were hand harvested on October 15. The wine was cold fermented at a steady 55 degrees F., aged briefly on the lees and bottled early in 2010. The delicately floral character of this wine, laced with ripe apricots and honey are balanced with modest residual sugar, crisp acidity, and well structured minerality.  It is a pleasure to drink chilled on its own or try it with spicy Asian cuisine.  DRG 1/10

2009 Pinot Gris, Santa Barbara County $19.00

When I started marking wine back in the ’70’s Pinot Gris was practically unknown aside from the fact that it’s a genetic mutant of Pinot Noir.  Today it is widely planted and gaining ground every year in California.  I set out to make a full, perfumed, dry white wine with richness and soft acidity that can be partnered with food.  Cold fermentation and early bottling of this vintage have produced this delightful and captivating wine.  DRG 11/09

2009 Winemaker’s Reserve Chardonnay, Santa Lucia $26.00

This wine has that wonderful Santa Barbara tropical fruit aroma with clear elements of pineapple, mango, guava and papaya which turns toward fresh, golden apple and butter cream on the palate.  Some of our customers and employees who tasted this wine early in its release thought that there actually is oak present.  Not.  It is quickly developing a complexity and bouquet that blurs the line between what is naturally there and the illusion of something that is not.  Enjoy it, and if it gets you scratching your head in sort of a "does she or doesn't she" question just remember my motto about wine.  "The first duty of a wine is to be interesting". DRG 5/10