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.
2021
GPS
Livermore Valley
(6% Grenache, 14% Petite Sirah, 80% Syrah)
$38
Brix at harvest: 25
Harvest date: 9/11-10/12/2021
Aging treatment: 80% Aged American Oak
20% New American Oak
Winemaker’s Notes:
“To be a good winemaker is to be a good listener. We spend entire seasons listening to the vineyard, trying to balance the vine to its environment, water with the vine’s need, adjusting to the cycles. We watch the shoots, the clusters, the canopy and the cover crop. We put our ear to the proverbial ground at harvest, weighing the ripeness of the fruit with the health of the vine, the weather, projected remaining heat in the season, rain fall…. And “hear” when it is time to pick. We spend years listening to the wine in barrels, does it need more oak? Is it too tannic? Will it age longer? Does it need to be bottled?
I have spent 21 years listening to the Livermore Valley appellation and this spot, this valley, these vineyards with their history, they give me perspective. Leave the overwrought Cabs to the North, the mist enshrouded Pinots to the West. Give me glorious floral. Give me fruit driven blends. Let me hear the Grenache, the Petite Sirah and the Syrah grapes that enjoy deep soils, heated summers, and afternoon bay breezes only the east bay experiences. Put these varietals together, grown in this place, and the Livermore Valley pulls back the veil to bring you into its fold. This blend says “place”, it says “unique”, it says “Livermore Valley” like no other blend can.”
Dane Stark, winemaker
Tasting notes:
Beautiful dark red with ruby edges and deep red towards the center.
This wine opens with ripe berries, a back bone of oak, layered cassis, strawberry, plum and dense fruit. The palate is awake and pleasing, with medium tannins, a lengthy and full mouthfeel and progressive acidity. It finishes long with ripe fruit, red berries, a touch of oak and a lengthy underlay of spice. The smoke on the final palate is notable. It should age gracefully.
2021
Cabernet Sauvignon
Livermore Valley
$38
TA: 6.5g/l
pH: 3.5
Brix at harvest: 24.2
Harvest date: 9/4/2021-10/7/2021
Aging treatment: 100% American oak medium grain, 40% New oak.
Bottled: 8/2023
Winemaker’s Notes:
“The grapes for this wine come from two different vineyards in the Livermore Valley. They have been selected for producing exceptional wines for the region.
The Livermore Valley will produce stunning Cabs, and this vintage is no exception. The East end of the valley provides heat, deep soils, and a length to the day during the growing season that provides for weighty Cabernet Sauvignon. The west end has more pocketed terrain, more fertile ground and more even ripening.
With the grace of this wine ageability is assured.”
Dane Stark, winemaker
Tasting Notes:
The color of this wine is ruby red in the center with clarity and vibrant edges.
It opens with a hint of smoke, medium fruit and floral, classic cassis and earth. It has a back drop of oak, not so much that over rides the palate, but enough to add structure to the mid palate and a fine coating of oak tannins.
The fruit is backed by rich cassis with a vanilla undertone and restrained oak presentation. Medium tannins provide for a wonderful food wine and tremendous age-ability. The smooth finish mingles toasted oak, coffee and ripe fruit for a rich experience of classic Cabernet Sauvignon.