November 18th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Ignace Paderewski, Polish pianist, composer and statesman was born in 1860.  In 1913 he moved to Paso Robles, California and later planted Zinfandel.

• The California Fruit News of 1916, indicated that the steamship “Governor” left San Francisco for British Columbia with a shipment of wine, fruits, vegetables and legumes. 

• California's Sierra Foothills AVA was designated in 1987. 

• Belgium's "Heuvellandse wijn,” "Vlaamse landwijn,” (vin de pays flamand) and "Vlaamse mousserende kwaliteitswijn” (vin mousseux de qualité kwaliteitswijn " AOCs were designated in 2005.

October 4th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Louis X of France was born in 1289.  He was an avid player of jeu de paume, also called real tennis and died after an exhausting match and drinking a large quantity of cooled wine.

• The California Agricultural Experiment Station received a shipment of Mondeuse grapes from the J. Gallegos, Experimental Pot, Mission San José in 1889.  The grapes were in good condition, if overripe and were crushed the same day.  

• California's Fiddletown  and Paso Robles AVAs were designated in 1983.

• Washington's Puget Sound AVA was designated in 1995.

October 4th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Association of Chilean Wine Bottlers formed in 1950.
• California's Fiddletownand Paso Robles AVAs were designated in 1983.
• Washington's Puget Sound AVA was designated in 1995.

Central Coast - Wine Region of the Day

The Central Coast was designated as an AVA in 1985. Situated across 280 miles from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, the Central Coast is home to sub-appellations Arroyo Grande Valley, Arroyo Seco, Ballard Canyon, Ben Lomond Mountain, Carmel Valley, Chalone, Cienega Valley, Edna Valley, Hames Valley, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, Lime Kiln Valley, Livermore Valley, Monterey, Mt. Harlan, Pacheco Pass, Paicines, Paso Robles, San Antonio Valley, San Benito, San Bernabe, San Francisco Bay, San Lucas, San Ysidro District, Santa Clara Valley, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Highlands, Santa Maria Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Ynez Valley, and York Mountain. The Central Coast is so vast that it features a variety of soil types and microclimates across its sub-appellations. The most common vines planted across the Central Coast are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc.

2011 Ascension Cellars Ascendance "Melange" Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

2011 Ascension Cellars Ascendance "Melange" Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

$56

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Our fathomless unfiltered Bordeaux-style blend was long aged, barrel fermented and hand racked for thirty-six months in French oak barrels. It is luscious, sleek and complex with floral red currant and spice box aromas that lead to layered, concentrated flavors of black cherry, mocha, white pepper, sweet cinnamon and oak that jump from the glass. Velvety-soft, round tannins linger on the mid palate, producing a rich, elegant, dry finish. Enjoy now or be rewarded if allowed to cellar for 3 years or more.

2011 Ascendance is beautiful alone and compliments medium to sharp cheddar cheeses, roasted game hens, duck, pork, grilled steaks, prime rib, filet mignon, lamb and good friends. Fill your glass with beauty and lift your spirits.

2013 Nobelle Wines Syrah - Wine of the Day

2013 Nobelle Wines Syrah

$32

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Big and spicy are the two words that come to mind. Very different from the Parker style, this wine should age beautifully for at least a decade.

Kiler Canyon is a magical location for Syrah that is known for having some of the best Syrah vineyards around. The meticulous approach and high tech knowledge at the vineyard makes a big difference in the end product. The hand-picked harvest took place on a foggy morning in October and was then trucked to the winery in one-two ton bins. 100% Syrah.

Syrah and puncheons make a traditional combo that never fails. We moved the juice after a two-week fermentation, and our Syrah already had that inky characteristic proper to the varietal. The wine was aged 24 months in new 500-liter puncheons.  Only 98 cases produced

Paso Robles Willow Creek District - Wine Region of the Day

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Just west of the City of Paso Robles and located between the Adelaida District and the Templeton Gap District is the Paso Robles Willow Creek District.  Marine breezes are a strong force in the district with substantial rainfall (24-30 inches per year) and fog commonly found in the area.  The temperatures in the region are cooler than the majority of the main viticultural area, averaging 2,900 growing degree days.  The coolness of the area, slows down the speed at which the fruit ripens allowing the maximum of flavors and sugars to develop.  The Willow Creek District is located around three tributary creeks of the Paso Robles Creek.  These creeks have helped erode and blend the shales, mudstones and sandstones of the Monterey Formation with the coarse sands and gravels of the Paso Robles Formation.  This alluvial mix is slightly alkaline with low water holding potential and of moderate nutrient value.   

Bordeaux and Rhone grape varietals are the most commonly grown in the Paso Robles Willow Creek District.

2013 Nobelle Wines Rosé de Carmenère - Wine of the Day

2013 Nobelle Wines Rosé de Carmenère

$9.99

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A rarity with a very jammy nose, red fruits characteristics and good acids, to our knowledge it is the only carmenere rose that you’ll find in Paso Robles.

A saignee was made a few hours after crushing; we then moved the precious juice into neutral french oak barrels where it aged for 8 months. 

‘The lost Bordeaux varietal’ thrives well here in Paso. Thirteen year old vines at Colbert Vineyards yielded about 3 tons/acre. Hand picking and quick delivery brought the fruit to the winery in perfect condition.

San Miguel District - Wine Region of the Day

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The San Miguel AVA is located in the north central portion of the original Paso Robles appellation and is named for the Mission San Miguel Arcángel, the Franciscan Mission created in the late 1700s.  Marine influence is not much of a factor in the San Miguel appellation.  Precipitation is relatively sparse due to the region being located in the rain shadow of the the Santa Lucia mountain range.  It receives 11.4 inches of precipitation per year.  The area is also warmer than many of the Paso Robles sub-appellations and averages 3,300-3,400 Growing Degree Days.  This makes San Miguel the third warmest area in the region.  The elevations in the region range from 580 to 1,600 feet above sea level and is crossed by both the Estrella and the Salinas River.  The geology at some of the higher elevations are characterized by granites and Monterey Shale which are then eroded into alluvial soils which are deep in the benches, terraces and floodplains.  Grapes being produced in the region include: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Zinfandel.

2012 Nobelle Wines Grenache Syrah - Wine of the Day

2012 Nobelle Wines Grenache Syrah

$28

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Impressive coffee bean scent when you open the bottle, follow by toasted bread and nutty aromas. The mouthfeel is soft and velvety, but the tannins are strong. Thanks to the syrah, a long acidity from the grenache makes the finish linger. A solid red with at least a 10 year aging potential.

Kiler Canyon is home to some of the best syrah in the county; it shares a fence line with Terry Hoag Cellars a well-established winery and a big syrah house as well. Conditions were ideal! A mild leaf thinning had to be done in August to get full sun exposure and good ventilation against potential mildew.

2013 Ascension Cellars Soul Shaker Bordeaux Blend - Wine of the Day

2013 Ascension Cellars Soul Shaker Bordeaux Blend

$66

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Incredibly inky hue with layers of perfumed plum, dark berries, cedar, mocha, coffee, and graphite aromas followed by hints of spice box. The texture on the palate is ultra-concentrated and silky with blackberry flavors and a touch of pepper, cocoa and Indian spice leading to the lush, lingering and focused finish that echoes on the palate. Enjoy now or be rewarded if allowed to cellar for 5 years or more.

2013 Soul Shaker compliments medium to sharp cheddar cheeses, roasted pork, braised short ribs, grilled steaks, prime rib, filet mignon, lamb, hearty stews and the company of dear friends.

2012 Nobelle Wines Cuvée Noël - Wine of the Day

 2012 Nobelle Wines Cuvée Noël

$25

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Typical Bordeaux style elegant and plummy with a twist of spice, the merlot brings a traditional velvety texture to the blend and cab the tannins.

2012 was amazing by any standard. All of this fruit came to full maturity with good color and acids, the natural hot springs underneath Julie’s Vineyard provided all the water and nutrients that the grapes needed to survive.

Aged for 18 months – 1/3 in brand new barrels, 1/3 in 2 to 5 year old barrels, 1/3 neutral barrels. Varietals comprise Cabernet Sauvignon from Starr Ranch, Malbec from Lockwood Valley Vineyards, dry farm Merlot from Julie’s Vineyard and Syrah from Hearthstone Vineyard.

2012 Ascension Cellars Evangelist Late Harvest Viognier - Wine of the Day

 2012 Ascension Cellars Evangelist Late Harvest Viognier

$36

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Our Ascension Cellars Viognier dessert wine is a whimsical wine that will gladden your heart with rich hints of peaches, caramelized pear, and honey combined with a delightful, hazelnut finish.

The Evangelist is the perfect finish or the start of something new. This wine pairs beautifully with cream blue and goat cheeses, light desserts with toasted pecans, Crème brûlée and sugar cookies.

Paso Robles Estrella District - Wine Region of the Day

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The Paso Robles Estrella District is another of the eleven sub-appellations of the Paso Robles viticultural area.  The AVA is located in the northeastern portion of its parent and surrounds the Estrella River. The topography of the region begins mountainous and elevations decrease and even out into the floor of the river valley.  The elevations in the District range from 745 to 1,819 feet above sea level though the wineries are largely found from 1,000 to 1,600. 

The climate is moderately warm making the region ideal for Rhone varietals.  Marine influences and air flows due to elevation also moderate the temperatures which makes the region good for Bordeaux grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.  The rainfall amounts range from 12.5 to 15.5 inches per year but are supplemented by the fogs brought into the region from the ocean air. The soils of the District are also effected by the its topography.  The soils of the region are alluvial and have low fertility but enough drainage to allow the roots of the vines to establish themselves and enough clay to help maintain moisture. 

2013 Nobelle Wines Carmenère - Wine of the Day

 2013 Nobelle Wines Carmenère

$39.00

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Colbert in San Miguel is one of the only vineyards to carry the varietal in the region. Carmenère always ripens late; mid-October to mid-November is the usual picking time. The leaves turn black in fall, which is very surprising and rare! 100% Carmenère.

Ahhh Carmenère! I never worked with it in France and always liked the Argentinian/Chilean style that was easy to achieve here, thanks to the growing conditions in 2013. The fruit came cleanly to the winery and right after crushing (less than 24 hours later) we inoculated the batch with classic Bordeaux yeast. After press we moved the wine to a Le Roi pungeon where it aged for 24 months. 76 cases produced.

This varietal has a light and delicate perfume. The density of the wine is very interesting, a lot of weight, followed by long and smooth spice. It will go perfectly with a rack of lamb with rosemary or similar, the simpler the better!

Adelaida District - Wine Region of the Day

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One of the eleven sub-appellations of the Paso Robles AVA, the Adelaida District is located in the northwestern portion of its parent.  Famously farmed by Polish musician and statesman, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Adelaida experienced its post-prohibition rebirth in the 1960s.  Largely mountainous, this geography has helped create a unique location by protecting the district from cool ocean breezes and allowing cool evening air to slide down the slopes.  These protection gave Adelaida a consistent daytime temperature while preventing overnight frosts.  Tectonics introduced a portion of limestone from the coast to be mixed into the sandstones, mudstones and slates to create colluvial soils that allowed good drainage that could hold sufficient moisture to encourage growth. Temperatures are similar to those of Bordeaux and the Rhone and grapes from those regions thrive here.

2013 Nobelle Wines Rive Gauche Cabernet Sauvignon - Wine of the Day

 2013 Rive Gauche Cabernet Sauvignon

$29

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After an early hand-pick in mid-October, the grape came to the winery in perfect condition. We used the tightest settings on the crusher/destemmer to extract all the tannins and color from these tiny berries, inoculated the must with D254 yeast and punched it down two to three times a day. After pressing 21 days later with a bladder press we let the wine rest overnight, then moved it to three-five year old barrels, including François et Frère, Demptos and Taransaud, where it was aged for 18 months.

An initial whiff of violets makes for a pleasant nose, followed by mild spiciness. This soft cabernet with a long finish is typical of the west side of Paso Robles.

2013 Playground Cellars Paso Robles Tempranillo - Wine of the Day

2013 Playground Cellars Paso Robles Tempranillo

$27

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Like our Howell Mountain Cab, we were at the right place at the right time. Through our connections we were able to stumble across enough for two barrels of this remarkable 100% Tempranillo that speaks to what Tempranillo is all about.

Vanilla cola swirls with cinnamon and allspice to blend into a burst of cherry and gold raspberry. The faint cedar and baking chocolate balances the fruit for a well-balanced finish of acid and tannins.

2011 Ascension Cellars Ascendance "Melange" Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot - Wine of the Day

2011 Ascension Cellars Ascendance "Melange" Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

$56

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Our fathomless unfiltered Bordeaux-style blend was long aged, barrel fermented and hand racked for thirty-six months in French oak barrels. It is luscious, sleek and complex with floral red currant and spice box aromas that lead to layered, concentrated flavors of black cherry, mocha, white pepper, sweet cinnamon and oak that jump from the glass. Velvety-soft, round tannins linger on the mid palate, producing a rich, elegant, dry finish. Enjoy now or be rewarded if allowed to cellar for 3 years or more.

2011 Ascendance is beautiful alone and compliments medium to sharp cheddar cheeses, roasted game hens, duck, pork, grilled steaks, prime rib, filet mignon, lamb and good friends. Fill your glass with beauty and lift your spirits.

Paso Robles Highlands District - Wine Region of the Day

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The Paso Robles Highlands District is the most southeast sub-appellation within the Paso Robles AVA.  The district was first settled in the 1880s when the name "Highlands" was assigned to the school district east of Creston. The topography is, as expected, does consist of uplands and canyons which have a more continental climate (think more season variation instead of overall moderate temperatures).  Despite this, the Winkler scales rates this area as a low region IV, making it more like Spain with an emphasis on those grape varietals.  While temperatures in the AVA may be high the lows may be as much as 50 degrees Fahrenheit which slows the ripening rate of the fruit on the vine and allows flavors and sugar to develop.