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Reserve Label
Cabernet Sauvignon Viking Estate Reserve 2006, $75
Clearly defining its mountain heritage “The Viking” shows a pedigree of intense Cabernet fruit which speaks of its unique limestone soil and precarious canyon slope. Planted on Paso Robles Westside, some 14 miles from the cooling Pacific Ocean, its 1,600 foot elevation and 30 degree slope guarantee low yields of highly aromatic blue skinned grapes. Purity of fruit and high toned berry characters result from the confluence of this optimum south facing, sun exposed site and the dramatic daily temperature swings of up to 50 degrees.
Initially shy, the wine opens majestically with aeration and reveals intense aromatics of black currants and classic graphite minerality. Supercharged with deep polished berry fruitiness, the fullness of ripe tannins delivers an eminence of concentration and mocha-like richness. This vintage argues persuasively for long term ageability, easily a ten year wine. On second thought, decant for one hour and drink now.

Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve 2004 (HMR/Viking Vineyards), $50
Harvested in mid and late September, batches were kept separate, destemmed and fermented in open top vats with indigenous yeast. Gentle punch downs maximized the skin contact and allowed a more balanced fruit and tannin integration. Secondary malolactic fermentation took place in barrel for a total of 24 months in French oak cooperage (40% new).
HMR contributes tart red berry fruit character, while Viking brings a distinctive mineral and liqueur de cassis element to the blend. The scent of crushed red and blue fruit commingles with laser beam fruit purity in a salivating, long cedar wood finish. Drink through 2015. Recommend decanting when young to allow for full expression.

Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah Chelle Mountain Reserve 2006, $50
All 13 acres of Chelle Mountain Vineyard lie within the tiny York Mountain appellation, west of Paso Robles, a mere 8 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Possessing a unique marine influenced microclimate with fog shrouded mornings and 15-20 degree cooler summer temperatures, it offers us another set of “colors” to work with in our mix of wines. Emphasizing bright, more edgy fruit character, the combination of these two varieties blends the tart red berry flavors of Cabernet with the rich textural elements of Syrah, a complementary synergy.
Penetrating zesty flavors with a fresh, “just picked” personality, the blend is reminiscent of crushed cherries, and currants sprinkled with mineral dust. The vibrant, racy fruit stays true to its cool mountaintop origins. Its juicy acidity and mouthwatering intensity enlivens your palate with pure berry freshness. A wining combination that will grow in complexity with bottle age. Drink now through 2013.

Syrah Viking Estate Reserve 2006, $65 -94 Points, Robert Parker; 91Points, Wine Enthusiast; 90 Points, Stephen Tanzer; 90 Points, Connoisseurs' Guide
A short Winter rainy season spurred early growth, followed by a glorious long Summer of warm days and cool nights, leading to an early September picking date. Ripeness balanced by mountain influenced natural acidity characterizes the Viking fruit. Destemmed, the berries are allowed a three day temperate soak, followed by fermentation in small open top vats, utilizing native indigenous yeast. Hand punch downs kept the cap immersed in the actively fermenting juice. When dry, the new wine was drawn off, separating the free run from the press fraction and moved to barrel. It underwent a natural malolactic conversion, and rested for 20 months on its lees. The use of one third new French oak barrels ensured a subtle spice addition, allowing dominance of the primary fruit.
Opaque color leads to aromatics of violets, lavender and always the inherent minerality of the terroir. Firmly structured with bright natural acidity, there is a sense of good breeding in the wine’s taut, thoroughbred style. Continued aeration reveals hints of game, wood smoke and chocolate essence. Recommend decanting for two hours or cellar up to five years.

Syrah Glenrose Vineyard Reserve 2006, $55 -92+ Points, Robert Parker; 91 Points, Wine Enthusiast; 90 Points, Stephen Tanzer; 90 Points, Connoisseurs' Guide
A short Winter of soaking rain was followed by an even cycle of warm Summer days and a bit of a cool-down as Fall approached, allowed ideal ripening conditions. The late September harvest in the cool morning hours, the fruit was destemmed, placed in small open top vats for a three day temperate soak and fermented with its own indigenous yeast strain. Following a regime of daily manual punch downs the free run was separated from the press fraction and moved to barrel where it underwent a natural malolactic conversion and rested in the same barrels on its lees for the duration.
Richly endowed, this years Glenrose Syrah is quite forward in its fullness of dark fruit, overlaid with a sense of gamey grilled meat juices. Further research reinforces the dense fruit character, with hints of lavender, cumin and coriander rubbing spices. An hour of decanting will reward you or hold up to five years in the cellar.

adelaida Label
Chardonnay HMR Estate 2008, $32
Vigorous, with a distinctive crescendo of freshness, the flavors show a tension between the inherent minerality and the clean, pear-like fruit accented by Spring flowers, maybe acacia blossoms. A long penetrating finish holds the crushed seashell character, the racy, crisp edge bolstered by ripe textures of honeydew melon and nuances of lemon zest and vanilla bean. Drink now or cellar to 2014.

Pavanne 2007, $22
(47% Roussanne, 34% Grenache Blanc, 13% Chardonnay, & 6% Viognier) Characterized by tropical flavors, Pavanne is an ideal Summer quencher, combining rich andcontrasting tart flavors with a mineral tinged finish. Initially full and ripe, with mouth coating flavors ofpineapple and kumquat, it leaves your palate with crisp edged sensations reminiscent of quince andgrapefruit-like citrus. It is ideal for a Hawaiian Luau or just relaxing poolside. Named after a medievaldance, Pavanne is a wine for casual gatherings, best enjoyed in the next one to two years. .

Version (Rhone Style White) Glenrose Vineyard 2007, $27
(58% Roussanne, 42% Grenache Blanc) The Glenrose Vineyard, at 1,200 – 1,600 feet in elevation and 16 miles from the Pacific Ocean, is adjacent to our own Viking Estate Vineyard. Precipitous and steep, its terraced rocky out-croppings and ledges are hewn from a massive limestone-ingrained pyramid. The grapes struggle in this inhospitable environment to give the wine a true sense of place.
Clarity of fruit and brisk assertive acidity are the hallmarks of this wine. Possessing an attractive bouquet reminiscent of a cross between grapefruit, lime, pear and ethereal hints of dandelion honey, it delivers a clean, refreshing mineral tinged finish.

Viognier Glenrose Vineyard 2008, $30
Seductively aromatic and full of mountain minerality, the 2007 Viognier reflects both the onset of drought conditions and the chalky, limestone soils of its elevated Westside Paso Robles site. Cooler conditions pushed back the harvest almost a full month, contributing low yields of small yellow-golden grape clusters. Revered by pre revolution French nobility for its heady sensual bouquet, the capricious Viognier demands a steady hand to capture the contrast of its rich texture and balancing natural acidity.
A bright mélange of peach blossom and melon aromas begin the procession of sensations leading to a rich, honeyed mouth feel and ripe apricot flavors; these revealing impressions venture to a brisk citrusy finish.

Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, $30
Dark crimson color and density of fruit begin the tasting marathon, leading to hints of lingonberries, cedar spice and graphite pencil shavings. High toned perfume, precision of red berry mountain grown fruit and an impression of richly textured ripeness are the hallmarks of this precocious, very successful vintage. Ready for immediate gratification or cellar through 2012.

Nebbiolo 2005, $35
From the old world to the new world, this Paso Robles interpretation of the famed Barolo varietal shows a classic blood orange color, leading to scents of black licorice, dried cranberry, Lapsang Souchong tea and flambéed orange zest. The complex range of flavors escalates to hints of pomegranates and sweet Balkan pipe tobacco finishing with characteristic big boned structure and chewy tannins. Best decanted or hold in the cellar from three to eight years.

Pinot Noir HMR Estate 2007, $30
The wine is a poetry of exotic perfume and salivating fine tannins leading to a core of pure black berry flavors. First impressions of chaparral, mesquite and sage move into the realm of first flush Darjeeling tea, followed by a fine grip of cherry skins, hints of rose petals finishing with layers of Thai and subtle Cajun spice. A few moments of aeration will reward the impatient imbiber. Drink now or cellar up to 2014.

Syrah Anna's Estate 2006, $28 -90 Points, Robert Parker; Best of Class, LA International Wine Competition
The first declared vintage of Adelaida’s Estate Anna’s Vineyard, named after the owner’s grandmother, is predominantly from block six, based on the Southern Rhone Tablas Clone A selection. This extremely dense, glass staining wine is precocious with its heady flavors of blueberry demiglazed fruit, and distinct wood smoke aromatics. Second tastes reveal a bazaar of Middle Eastern spices and scents of fine corinthian leather. Best enjoyed with lamb or game, its sexy personality will persist for upwards of five years of good cellaring. Unfined and Unfiltered. 812 Cases.

Version (Rhone Style Red) 2006, $30 -91 Points, Robert Parker; Gold Medal, LA International Wine Competition
The Internally know as an “MSG”, referring to the dominance of Mourvedre, followed by Syrah and Grenache, Version ’06 emphasizes a meaty, fine leather aromatic, with lively, cool climate blueberry fruit character, leading to a complex finish of white pepper and fine Havana cigar wrapper. Characteristic of the house style, this wine will improve over the next 12-18 months, as the diverse elements gain harmony, otherwise impatient wine drinkers will be rewarded by decanting for 30 minutes.. Unfined and Unfiltered. 1000 Cases.

Zinfandel 2007 Michael's Estate Vineyard, $28
This, our second declared vintage, had yields of a mere one ton/acre, similar to the restricted productivity of much older vines. Zinfandel, famously (some would say infamously), produces clusters of widely uneven ripeness, some berries sweet, and others still green. To ensure balanced flavors, we do taste trials based on fruit selected from several positions within the vine, rather than random clusters. The resulting harvest gave us density of flavor without the often encountered over-ripe raisin flavors. Picked in early September, the berries were destemmed, allowed a short temperate soak, fermented with native yeast, pumped over to accentuate aeration, then moved to barrel for nearly a two year maturing in mostly neutral (second and third use) French oak casks.

Schoolhouse Label

Schoolhouse Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, $18
Picked late in the season, into November, the ripe fruit was destemmed, allowed a short temperate soak and fermented with indigenous yeast in open top stainless steel vats, with daily manual punch downs of the skins and pulp. All lots were kept separate and matured in mostly neutral French oak (10% new) to accent the fruit forward character of the ultimate blend.
Held an additional eight months in bottle before release, the wine immediately reveals its juicy round texture with notes of sweet baking spice and a rewarding finish of blackcurrants and subtle minerality. This Schoolhouse deserves a post graduate degree. It is ready for current enjoyment and will continue to mature for up to 3 additional years of cellaring, but why wait?

Schoolhouse Pinot Noir 2006, $18
In the tradition of the monopole wines of Burgundy, this serious 2nd label wine gets 100% of its fruit from our 40+ year old HMR Estate vineyard. Planted in 1964 on its own roots, the low yield selection (1-1½ tons/acre) comes from heavier soils and lower elevation sites in the vineyard which give us lighter weight wines suitable for current drinking. The HMR property lies on rolling hillsides in the mountainous Westside of Paso Robles (elevation 1,800 feet). Key to this locale is cooler median summer temperatures and the frequent morning fogs and mists which work in favor of the capturing the delicate and complex flavors of the eccentric Pinot Noir.

Schoolhouse Recess Red 2006, $15
The grapes for this wine were sourced from some of our own estate blocks plus three other neighboring Westside vineyards. The blend this year consists of 10 varietals (primarily Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah). Fruit chosen for the Schoolhouse label comes from the same vineyards as our primary label and is not made from bulk wine or lesser quality vineyards.
Each varietal was handled separately, fermented with native yeasts and spent 24 months in French and American oak ( 8% new barrels). Bordeaux meets Australia meets Italy, this multidimensional blend incorporates pure berry fruitiness, flavors of dark chocolate with a spice box finish to satisfy midweek wine cravings. Polished and suave, it offers immediate gratification and is designed for current drinking with your favorite food accompaniment. From pizza to more exotic creations it embodies our philosophy of food compatibility and reminds you of its “sense of place”, the mountainous terroir of coastal Paso Robles.

Schoolhouse Syrah 2005, $15
Beautiful crimson clarity and pretty Damson plum fruitiness lead the palate into further revelations of chocolate tinged dark fruits and cracked pepper spiciness. Smooth, yet vibrant this Syrah is asking for a juicy sirloin on the “Barbee” or ideally, turmeric rubbed lamb brochettes with roasted red bell pepper sauce. Drink now through 2009.

Schoolhouse Zinfandel 2006, $15
Sourced from dry farmed vineyards on the west side of Paso Robles, the 2006 vintage shows heightened fruit aromatics and an ideal balance of ripeness and natural fruit acidity. The native limestone soils of the Westside bring a complexing minerality to the savory fruit character of the exuberant Zinfandel. Yields of less than 2 tons/acre (and in some cases only ¾ ton/acre) produce small concentrated berries with thick skins, ideal for the expression of Zinfandel fruit character.