2006 La Encantada Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir   The nose starts off with hints of smoked meat, herbs, and dark fruit, but after a little time, these qualities really blossom into a wonderfully expressive aromatic profile. The palate reflects the nose in both character and timing, in that it starts out with nuanced flavors that build into rich, dense flavors of cherry, smoked meat, and spice. Further opening broadens the nose, with dark fruit and dusty earth carrying the low tones and a variety of herbs and light oak wafting along the high notes. Good, bright acidic structure and tannins give this wine staying power, and it opens very nicely over time as the tannins become soft and plush, and the nose and palate build to their full potential. More 300 cases produced     [$46]   2006 Savoy Anderson Valley Pinot Noir   Aromatics of dark fruit accompanied by rich mushroom and forest floor on the nose, along with a light spiciness that is difficult to pin down, but wonderful. As it opens, the nose resolves into plum and black cherry, with continued foresty notes blending into hints of moss, and the spice expands to include fresh herbed aromas of mint and even a little lavender. The palate starts out with black cherry and mushroom and quickly evolves to include dark plum and fig, with a deep, dark quality that is somehow still bright and lifted. Supported by consistent tannic structure from opening through the medium-long finish, the deep fruit character is very nicely complimented by overtones of graphite, dense dried fruit, and earthy mushroom. More 323 cases produced     [$46]   2006 Alder Springs Mendocino Chardonnay   Located in Laytonville in the northernmost portion of Mendocino County, this unique vineyard site sits between 1800 and 2500 feet in elevation, approximately seven miles from the Pacific Ocean. The coastal influence results in the ideal growing conditions of warm days and cold nights, and coupled with Stuart Bewley’s great attentiveness to his vineyard, this produces fruit of extremely high quality. More 250 cases produced     [$38]   2006 Sanford and Benedict Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir   Planted in 1971 by Richard Sanford, this is the oldest Pinot Noir vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley. It was purchased in 1990 by Janice and Robert Atkin, and today they farm it with the same high standards. The finished wine is a blend of the original Mt. Eden planting and some newer Dijon clones, adding to the wine’s complexity. Tobacco, spice, and light smokiness on the nose draw you in, which then opens up to more fruit-driven aromas of red fruit and cherry cola. On the palate the fruit builds even further with cherry, blackberry, and black cherry, still paired off with cola, tobacco, and toastiness, and over time a slight floral character develops on both the palate and the nose. The fruit from this vineyard expresses itself with a wonderful balance of nuanced flavors, bold fruit character, and great structure, with supple tannins and good acidity to carry the palate through a smooth finish. More 291 cases produced     [$48]   2006 Griffin's Lair Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir   Great savory aromas and a dusty, earthy character show first on the nose of our 2006 Griffin’s Lair Pinot Noir, along with mushroom and fruit scents of plum, cherry, and even boysenberry. These open quickly to include nuances of smoked meat and Indian spice, along with a deepening and expansion of the fruit character. Good acidity and structured tannins mingle with the savory aspects from the nose as they continue on the palate, and these elements all compliment the back and forth drift between red fruit and dark fruit flavors. All of these components come together to great effect, creating a complex wine with a lot of nuanced layers that reveal themselves in varying combinations as it opens up through the long finish. More 283 cases produced     [$45]   2005 Brosseau Chalone Pinot Noir   Jan and Jon Brosseau first planted their vineyard in 1981 and 1982, high above the Salinas Valley in the heart of the Chalone appellation. The vineyard typifies Burgundian terroir, with its cool Monterey coastal climate and rocky limestone soils, and is a perfect site for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Our Pinot Noir block was planted in 1999 to the Mt. Eden clone and typically yields 2-3 tons per acre. The wine shows a wonderful balance of fruit, structure, and minerality. Nestled in the hills of the Chalone appellation, just around the bend from Pinnacles National Monument, the Brosseau Vineyard has produced fantastic Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for many years. It is a very soil-driven site with sections of the vineyard nearly white from limestone. Because of this, wines made from Brousseau fruit gain a pronounced minerality, with a soft, structured mouthfeel and a range of earth flavors not often found in other California vineyards. More 111 cases produced     [$42]   2005 Brosseau Chalone Chardonnay   2005 marks our first year producing Brosseau Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and we couldn?t be happier with the results. Our Brosseau Chardonnay has a nose of wet stone and pineapple with hints of cedar and integrated oak. On the palate, the fruit opens to include apple nuances and pineapple, with good oak structure, wonderful texture from the limestone, and a lingering finish of seamless acidity. The finish actually builds up again before finally trailing off over a long period. It is showing very well right now, and will open up even more over the coming years. More 158 cases produced     [$38]   2005 Clos Pepe Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay   Crisp, vibrant and minerally, this wine gives a nod to old-world, Burgundian-style sensibilities while embracing the fruit character of California Chardonnay. Often subjected to morning fog and cool windy afternoons, the area in which the Clos Pepe vineyard lays is ideal for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The overall impression of the wine is one of minerality, sophistication and elegance. A cool climate site, the fruit from this vineyard is vibrant and ensures that the wine will last for several years to come. On the nose of our 2005 Clos Pepe Chardonnay, herbal and floral aromas pair well with underlying mineral scents. Fruit flavors of light pineapple and peach along with subtle minerals evolve in the mouth into a bright, citrus-like finish, with notes of orange and even a hint of lime zest. For having such wonderfully crisp natural acidity, this wine has a surprisingly rich texture and mouth-feel, and the combination of fruit, subtle oak, and minerality comes together in a great balance. More 112 cases produced     [$42]   2005 Widdoes Russian River Pinot Noir   The Widdoes Vineyard is owned by Shirley & Don Widdoes, whose family has owned the property for many years. It is located in the cool micro-climate zone of Green Valley in the Russian River Valley, and is leased and farmed by the Duttons, who planted the vines nearly twenty years ago. These relatively old vines tend to ripen fruit slowly, producing wines with tremendous depth and complexity. Tobacco and chocolate aromas join spiced notes on the nose, rounding out to include raspberry cordials and earthiness. The palate reflects these elements as well and bursts with raspberry and red plum, drawing out in a long finish of fruit, spice, and chocolate shavings. Well-balanced tannins and acidity give the wine good grip and will allow it to age well over the next several years. More 93 cases produced     [$48]