2020
Ridge Lift
Red Wine
$28
Tempranillo: 19%
Zinfandel: 17%
Petite Sirah: 16%
Cabernet Sauvignon: 14%
Syrah: 12%
Other: 22%
Aging treatment: 100% American Oak
Bottled: 5/2022
Winemaker Dane Stark has a passion for free flight. He has been a paraglider pilot for three decades and now finds the invisible currents of air using a sailplane. Without a motor, free flight places the pilot in the zone, using only the naturally occurring currents to stay aloft.
From this place of unconventional zone, Stark has brought together top performing varietals into a blend that rises to olfactory heights. Engaging style, with approachable flair.
This wine is ruby red with delightful depth. It opens with classic spice and fruit and finishes with the smoothest of landings.
Wing tip to wing tip it is balanced and delicious. A true gem of what California blends have to offer.
2021
Tempranillo
Livermore Valley
$34
TA: 5.8 g/l
pH: 3.9
Brix at harvest: 24.5
Harvest date: 10/14/2021
Aging treatment: 100% American oak medium grain (neutral)
Winemaker’s Notes:
“Tempranillo is a workhorse of varietals, typically being blended into Riojas.
As a stand alone varietal it is more demure than our California standard bearers, Cab and Merlot. It’s a wine that is not the loudest at the party, but still waters run deep. Because it can be masked by oak influence, the new oak was sparingly used, accounting for less than 10% of the blend.
It is a Spanish varietal that performs exceptionally well in our Livermore Valley.
My first choice to pair with this wine is hard cheese and crudites!”
Dane Stark, winemaker
Tasting Notes:
The color of this wine is a medium red ruby color, not overly dense.
It opens with earthy fruit, a touch of plum and strawberry, tobacco and medium intensity with pleasing berry and pepper notes.
The structure lends itself to aging and the lean fruit of the mid palate is pleasing in a delicate way. The excellent structure provides for a wonderful food wine and this wine will pair beautifully with richer dishes. The finish mingles spice, leather, herbs and earth.
Impeccable balance and medium tannin structure finish in a lengthy wash of cacao, hints of coffee and earth.
TA: 5.3g/l
pH: 3.6
Brix at harvest: 25.5
Harvest date: 10/06/2020
Aging treatment: Barrel aged 24 months
Winemaker’s Notes:
“The Zinfandels that we find in Livermore Valley can be highland raisin or valley floor jam. While this vineyard can be considered Valley Floor, it is not in the Tesla corridor of deeper soils.
The harvest in 2020 was normal, providing an elegant sweetness to the palate that we haven’t seen in recent vintages.
This wine is a combination of the Sblendorio Vineyard and Donovan Vineyard…. .”
Dane Stark, winemaker
Tasting Notes:
This wine has ruby clarity and a vibrant red color.
Its aroma is lovely, floral and delicate, with cherries and hints of spice. It is inviting and refined.
With soft tannins and silky mid palate, the fruit is gentle and backed by a mild alcohol giving it a sweet presentation. There are notes of strawberry, cherries, and a kiss from the one new oak barrel out of 8 that went into the blend. Tannins present themselves reservedly towards the finish.
Oak plays a minor role in this wine which saw entirely American oak barrels only one of which were new.