Our limited production Unique Cuvées focus on the expression of their place of origin, rather than grape varieties. The specific conditions of their terroir drive our blending decisions: no pre-conceived formulas, no recipes, no borrowed "traditions" from anywhere else: Bordeaux, Rhone Valley, or Napa. In the "Old World" tradition, varietal blends enables us to reach a better balanced, distinctive expression of terroir, free of winery manipulations like inoculations, acid corrections, water additions or removal (reverse osmosis), fining/filtration, and so on. By far, most of our blending is done in the vineyard - we co-ferment as much of the final blend as Nature allowes… Experience shows that this practice results in well-integrated, harmonious blends. We regularly co-ferment white and red grapes: this tends to improve the texture, mid-palate, and aromatic expression of our red wines. And since 2007 we no longer use any new oak barrels for aging our wine; we use 1-5 years old barrels, which do not distort or mask the true character of the wine with the all too familliar "vanilla gloss". No sulfites were added to any of our wines in 2010 and, so far, in 2011. We may use tiny amounts at the bottling of our rose and white blend to minimize bottle variation on these more sensitive wines.
Until 2010, we farmed about 6 acres of leased vineyards in our immediate area, with the same care and environmentally conscientious methods of viticulture we use in our Pinot Noir Vineyards. That year, after losing 2/3 of our crop to frosts, we had to purchase some fruit to make up for the loss. We have discovered some great sources for high quality grapes and have decided to keep purchasing some of the fruit we use for the interim - until our own new plantings come to age.
In 2011, we have started planting some white varieties, which in the long run will make our Carte Blanche: Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and Roussanne. They were planted immediately north of our Pinot Noir in the Home Vineyard and will enjoy a similarly cool microclimate, and north-east facing exposure. This year we continue with Syrah, Riesling, (perhaps some Petit Manseng?), and more Pinot at the coolest, lowest end of that new vineyard site. The total acreage of the new planting will be around 2-1/2 or 3 acres, so the scale of our operation and production will not change in the long run.


Cuvée Mystérieuse -- NV

Our first Special Cuvee experiment: we found that the Syrah and Merlot grapes work wonderfully well together, making a wild, intense, tannic hulk of a wine. The Cabernet adds some elegance to the mix and tames it with its refined berry/herbal touches, and the Viognier brings it to life with its fresh acidity and enchanting flowery/spicy aromas.

708 bottles , 36 magnums, bottled unfined, unfiltered on 10/1/2002.


Tickled Pink -- 2010

No sulfites added. 100% grape - what an unusual notion! Syrah and Cinsault, as nature intended.

1608 bottles  bottled unfined on 12/11/2010.


Carte Blanche -- 2010

A first attempt at adding no sulfites at all. A successful one.

1212 bottles  bottled unfined on 1/23/2011.


Out of the Blue Cinsault -- 2010

One of our Happy Wines: cheerful in color, aromas, and flavor. Beaujolais's hill billy cousin from the Foothills.

1253 bottles  bottled unfined, unfiltered on 1/30/2011.


Tickled Noir -- 2009

Pinot Noir 100%.

330 bottles  bottled yes on 4/15/2010.


Carte Blanche -- 2009

Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay, Roussanne.

0 bottles  bottled yes on 2/20/2010.


Tickled Pink -- 2009

Syrah 100%. A dry rosé: light, lively, extemely food-friendly.

0 bottles  bottled yes on 2/12/2010.


Home Vineyard Pinot Noir -- 2008

Similar to the 07 in style, with slightly more elegance and purity.

945 bottles , 36 magnums, bottled unfined, unfiltered on 1/1/2010.


Holy Moly! -- 2008

Dark in color, light in body, and an intense, spicy-smokey character.

561 bottles  bottled unfined, unfiltered on 7/5/2010.


Tickled Pink -- 2008

Syarh 66%, Cabernet Sauvignon 34%

780 bottles  bottled yes on 2/27/2009.


Carte Blanche -- 2008

Sauvignon Blanc, Roussanne, Semillon, Viognier, Chardonnay.

1390 bottles  bottled yes on 2/19/2009.


Home Vineyard Pinot Noir -- 2007

Intensely fruity, graceful balance and texture, great purity and length.

973 bottles , 18 magnums, bottled unfined, unfiltered on 12/23/2008.


Tickled Pink -- 2007

A dry rosé made of 100% Syrah

1404 bottles  bottled yes on 2/23/2008.


Carte Blanche -- 2007

Viognier/Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc.

996 bottles  bottled yes on 2/28/2008.


Black Pearl -- 2006

Dark, intense, and powerful. High percent of Petit Verdot contributes distinctive spice and vigor.

1224 bottles , 42 magnums, bottled unfined, unfiltered on 6/9/2009.


Heart of Stone Syrah -- 2006

Big and brooding, with a mighty structure and a long life ahead.

1428 bottles , 42 magnums, bottled unfined, unfiltered on 6/8/2009.


Cuvée Mystérieuse -- 2006

Nearly half/half Syrah/Merlot, this is a wine of harmony, complexity, and rich texture.

1239 bottles  bottled unfined, unfiltered on 10/29/2008.


Texas Hill Rd Pinot Noir -- 2006

Located about 2 miles east of our Home Vineyard, this is a one-acre, east-facing vineyard at about 1700 ft. elevation. Clone 115 planted ca. 1995 on de-composed granite and clay-loam topsoil.

0 bottles  bottled  on 2/1/2008.


Tickled Pink -- 2006

Rose of Syrah and Mourvedre

0 bottles  bottled  on .


Carte Blanche -- 2006

Viognier/Roussanne,/Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc

1750 bottles  bottled yes on 2/7/2007.


Tickled Pink -- 2005

A lively, refreshing, spicy blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. If you have given up on California Rosé - try this one!

792 bottles  bottled  on 3/8/2006.


Black Pearl -- 2005

Syrah 47%, Cabernet Sauvignon 47%, Petit Verdot 2%, Viognier/Roussanne 4%.

1060 bottles , 42 magnums, bottled unfined, unfiltered on 7/10/2008.


Carte Blanche -- 2005

Viognier (55%), Chardonnay (28%), and Sauvignon Blanc (17%), together creating a rich flowery fabric, with herbal spices and minerals.

894 bottles  bottled  on 3/8/2006.


Heart of Stone Syrah -- 2005

Syrah 98%, Viognier 2%. Fermented on the stems in an open top wood vat.

0 bottles  bottled unfined, unfiltered on 6/29/2008.


Texas Hill Road Pinot Noir -- 2005

About 2 miles east of our Home Vineyard, this is a one-acre, east-facing vineyard at about 1700 ft. elevation. Clone 115 planted ca. 1995 on de-composed granite and clay-loam topsoil.

1080 bottles  bottled unfined, unfiltered on 3/15/2007.


Cuvée Mystérieuse -- 2005

A crosss between the California sun and the Rhone Valley's warm spice and friendly flavors. Complex, gentle, harmonious, spicy, food friendly.

1044 bottles , 36 magnums, bottled unfined, unfiltered on 5/13/2008.


Black Pearl -- 2004

A blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Sauvignon Blanc. Rich, flavorful, and harmonious.

1260 bottles , 42 magnums, bottled unfined, unfiltered on 4/25/2007.


Cuvée Mystérieuse -- 2004

Syrah 61%, Merlot 31%, Mourvedre 5%, Viognier 3%. Intensely aromatic, complex, elegant, beautifully balanced. Rich, polished tannins.

1259 bottles , 48 magnums, bottled unfined, unfiltered on 5/3/2007.


Syrah Heart of Stone -- 2004

Syrah 96%, Viognier 4%. Mouthfilling and spicy, rich in cherry, musky flavors, ending on violets and minerals.

1997 bottles , 48 magnums, bottled unfined, unfiltered on 4/13/2007.


Tickled Pink -- 2004

A dry rosé made of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre. Well balanced, with rich fruit, refreshing natural acidity, spices & minerals. A perfect lunch wine.

936 bottles  bottled yes on 2/15/2005.


Carte Blanche -- 2004

The second version of our white blend, this time with nearly equal proportions of Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay.

1284 bottles  bottled  on 3/8/2005.


Black Pearl -- 2003

Merlot 51%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%, Syrah 19%

1144 bottles , 42 magnums, bottled unfined, unfiltered on 1/24/2006.


Pinot Too -- 2003

Made from the fruit of younger vines on our property blended with some older vine fruit from another vineyard in our neighborhood.

672 bottles  bottled Unfined, Unfiltered on 1/7/2005.


Sacre Bleu! Syrah -- 2003

Syrah 95%, Grenache 2%, Mourvedre 1%, Viognier 2%. Super intense and structured.

1260 bottles , 36 magnums, bottled unfined, unfiltered on 12/26/2005.


Holy Moly! -- 2003

Our very own SGM blend (Grenache 58%, Syrah 21%, Mourvedre 21%).

1308 bottles  bottled unfined, unfiltered on 6/29/2005.


Cuvée Mystérieuse -- 2002

The blend this vintage is of Syrah, Merlot, and Viognier, resulting in an intensely aromatic, elegant, highly distinctive wine.

1320 bottles , 60 magnums, bottled unfined, unfiltered on 1/2/2005.


Syrah Heart of Stone -- 2002

Our first relase of a varietal Syrah: big, juicy, spicy, built to last. Just in case you wonder, this wine is neither over-ripe, over-alcoholic, or over-oaked. We much prefer pure fruit, balance, and the stamp of a unique vineyard site in our wines, and this Syrah has it all.

1668 bottles , 60 magnums, bottled unfined, unfiltered on 8/4/2004.


Pinot Too -- 2002

Fruit from our own young vines blended with old-vine Pinot we bought locally make a delicious, irresitible little wine - - - Well, not that little.

350 bottles  bottled unfined, unfiltered on 3/4/2004.


Carte Blanche -- 2002

Our first white wine, made from Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Viognier. These blend so amazingly well together, we just can't figure out why nobody has tried it before...

1440 bottles  bottled Unfined on 3/1/2003.


Black Pearl -- 2001

The various grape varieties for this blend were organically grown in a number of separate vineyard parcels between 1700-2400ft, on steep, rocky, granitic slopes. The result is a giant of a wine, with uncommon concentration, depth, length, and balance. An elegant monster.

1572 bottles , 12 magnums, bottled unfined, unfiltered on 3/10/2004.


Black Pearl -- 2000

A big, rich, harmonious wine, elegantly combining the cabernet might with the syrah animal charm, the sangiovese tangy plumpness, and the petit verdot daunting spice.

948 bottles , 72 magnums, bottled unfined, unfiltered on 3/1/2003.