We have a relatively new release here in the tasting room, and it has quickly become one of my favorites. It is the 2006 Lafond Martin Ray Clone Pinot Noir. The highest quality fruit (exclusively Martin Ray Clone Pinot Noir) has been selected to be included in this bottling.
Lafond Vineyard is home to eight Pinot Noir clones, all of which have their own unique character and flavor profile. Bruce McGuire has produced this small batch of Martin Ray clonal designate Pinot Noir from a specific 25-acre block of the vineyard that was planted 24 years ago. The wine was aged in 100% French Burgundy Oak barrels for about 10 months, during which its complexity was enhanced.
The structure and depth of flavor makes this Pinot Noir a nice match with savory foods such as lamb, Copper River salmon, and hearty mushroom dishes. I have had it recently paired with crusty herbed flatbread, baked zucchini flowers (a beautiful summer seasonal vegetable), and tender grilled lamb. Enjoy it now through 2014. Only 174 cases were produced. Price: 48.00/750ml
To order:
Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery
Bruce and his whole crew are at the Lafond Winery this week. They are readying most of 2007’s red wine for bottling. First they spend several days tasting and evaluating each barrel and each lot. This is the final cut.
Which wines merit to be bottled as single vineyard or single clone wines. 
Over the years we have learnt which parts of the vineyard and which clones produces consistently outstanding wines, but there are surprises. For the past few years we have been experimenting with tying each individual cane to prevent canopy leaves from shading the fruit.
Obviously, a very slow and costly process, but with the results of the 2007 vintage now in, we will be doing a lot more of it in the future. Most, if not all of the vines where this was done, will end up in our special limited bottling. Both Winemaker Bruce McGuire and David Lafond were impressed by the results.
Photos show the crew at work and if not at play, at least at the table.
On Saturday,
Elements Restaurant and Catering hosted the
Old Spanish Days 3rd Annual Wine Tasting in the
Sunken Gardens at the
Courthouse. Over
40 local wineries poured over 100 wines under white tents on the grass while live music played. There was a special reserve tasting and cooking demonstration from 2-4 for those who wanted to shell out a little bit more for a ticket. The main tasting followed from 4:00-7:00.
It seemed deceivingly smaller than the event last year, but that was because of the different set up of tables. Instead of one large tent, two tents were set up, one for the reserve tasting and the other for the main tasting. Guests were able to walk across the street to Elements when the event ended to continue their evening. Sitting outside you could watch the quick breakdown of tables, which by 7:30 the Sunken Gardens looked as if there had not been a huge event there only a half an hour before.
I just wanted to remind wine club members about all of the events we have coming up over the next couple of months, there are just a few spots left for each of them! Reservations for events can be made by calling (805)963-3633. I remember looking at this list at the beginning of the summer and thinking they were so far in the future, but now they are right around the corner. With the Fourth of July behind us time is flying by at an astounding speed. I will be talking about Harvest 2008 before we know it.
July 19 our lovely and talented tasting room host and guitar virtuoso, Chris Fossek, will be playing Flamenco Guitar for us in the barrel room. Chris will perform while we sip wine under candle light. Chris played a sold out show for us last summer and frequently plays at the Pierre Lafond Bistro and up at the Lafond vineyard. Appetizers will be served. The cost for this event is 35.00/person. Limit 40 people. 6-8pm.
August 9 is our Annual Wine Club BBQ. The much anticipated BBQ is set again for the second weekend of August. Not only is the food fantastic, but you’ll enjoy Santa Barbara wines, Lafond wines, and barrel samples. This is a great opportunity to get up to the vineyard and enjoy our wines. This event sells out fast! 1-4pm. Only 35.00/person.
August 23 Chef Joel Chapman will be back to guide us through the cuisine of India. Last month, Joel hosted a Greek Cooking Class where we watched him cook and listened to him tell stories about the history of the dishes and the cuisine while enjoying our wines. Oh ya, we got to eat the food too after he prepared it! Chef Joel was introduced to the Indian culture while living in New Zealand where there is a large Indian population 50.00/person. Limit 20 people. 6-8pm.
As a member of the wine club you get the opportunity to participate in all of our winery events. It is truly something you should take advantage of. We love having you here as our guests. Thank you for continuing to enjoy our wine. We will keep making it if you keep drinking it!
Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery
In addition to the Solstice Parade and Festival this weekend, the Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance will host the 2008 Open House weekend (June 21 & 22) to showcase the burgeoning appellation. Numerous events and morning vineyard walks will allow guests to get an in-depth and close up look at the region.
Two-day passports are available for $75 and includes:
*Access to Open Houses at participating wineries
*A picnic box lunch created by Lafond Bistro (pick up your lunch at Lafond Winery between 11:30 and 1:30)
*Gala Reception at Sanford and Benedict barn on Saturday evening
*Morning Vineyard Walks
For more details, including wineries that will hold open houses, see the events page at www.staritahills.com. There are additional events going on, such as winemaker dinners and a golf outing, available at additional costs.
Lafond Winery will have an Open House on Saturday from 10-2:30pm and on Sunday from 10-5pm. On Saturday winemaker Bruce McGuire will offer 2007 barrel samples and select library tastings in the barrel room. Light appetizers will also be served. The Open House will continue on Sunday.
This event only happens once a year and provides a unique opportunity to meet the winemakers and increase your knowledge of Santa Barbara’s wine country.
Joanie Hudson, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Santa Barbara Winery
We are completing a new patio which, for lack of a better name, we are calling our VIP Patio. But stay tuned, we will certainly need to come up with a better name.
We built on the side of the winery as you approach from Santa Rosa Road. In Santa Rita Hills you are almost guaranteed to have wind. It you usually comes up before noon and lasts until late afternoon or until the fog rolls in. We think of it as invigorating but for many it creates havoc with tablecloths and light plastic or paper tableware. The wind brings in the ocean breeze and cools the vineyard and makes possible the fantastic Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that we grow here.
The Patio is connected to the production winery through what we always referred as the VIP room, thus the name of the patio — for now. The Patio is surrounded by a wall and since it is on the leeward side of the winery it affords a great deal of wind protection.
We hope to use it for small groups, that can be catered, of up to 50 people, preferably less.
Call Mirella Valdez, our Tasting Room Manager, for additional information 805.688.7921.
Click the images to enlarge:
A view of the Lafond Vineyards taken today June 7, 2008. In the foreground our older vineyard on the north side of the Santa Ynez river And in the background on the south side of the river the newer vineyard and the winery. By clicking the image and enlarging it you can barely distinguish it up against the hills. In between our neighbor Hilltop Vineyards which supplies us with Chardonnay and some Syrah. The Santa Rita Hills have turned brown, as they always do in June, and the river, although there is a flow, is easy to cross with our tractors and ATVs.
Click image to enlarge:
The structure and depth of flavor makes this Pinot Noir a nice match with savory foods such as lamb, Copper River salmon, and hearty mushroom dishes. I have had it recently paired with crusty herbed flatbread, baked zucchini flowers (a beautiful summer seasonal vegetable), and tender grilled lamb. Enjoy it now through 2014. Only 174 cases were produced. Price: 48.00/750ml
Recent Comments