New Release:
Santa Barbara County
2005 Grenache / Syrah
After three decades of wine growing in the Santa Rita Hills, Pierre Lafond and winemaker Bruce McGuire are still experimenting with unconventional varieties in this very cool growing region.
Following their successful introduction of Syrah to Santa Rita Hills in the early 1990’s, they are now introducing their first Grenache/Syrah blend. Utilizing Syrah from neighbor Hilltop Ranch (right across the dirt road) and Grenache that Bruce sourced from the Byron Vineyard up in Santa Maria, Bruce has crafted a wine showing the cool climate spicines of Syrah and the bright red fruit flavors of Grenache.
The Grenache helps to tame the Syrah making this middle weight wine more approach- able than straight Syrah and thus easier to pair with a wider range of foods. A delightful wine to have with Spanish tapas, lighter meats, or an afternoon repast of olives, cow’s milk cheeses and fresh bread.
This wine should show complete flavor development by the end of 2007 and be quite enjoyable through 2009.
Suggested retail 22.00/750ml
Production: 424 cases
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New Release:
2006 Sauvignon Blanc
The Sauvignon Blanc landscape in California is resplendent with a wide variety of flavors and styles. Because this varietal can be successfully grown in a wide climate range, albeit showing different fruit qualities from different areas, one has to pay careful attention to clonal selection and site selection within the vineyard.
In general, warmer areas are well suited to classic Bordeaux clones while cooler growing regions are better suited to exotic clones such as our Musque clone of Sauvignon Blanc. With an eye toward many of the foods produced in Santa Barbara County and the seafood caught in our coastal waters, Winemaker Bruce McGuire has created a blend that combines two different clones of Sauvignon Blanc from two climate zones.
He pairs the tropical fruit and citrus flavors of our Musque clone with the warm climate “Davis Clone 1” from Westerly Vineyard, 16 miles to the east of Lafond Vineyard and about 15 degrees warmer. This clone is also on the delicate side, keeping the grassy, herbal side of Sauvignon Blanc in check and makes up about 25% of the total blend. Bruce then blended in 7.5% Viognier to add to the spicy fruit character.
About three quarters of this wine was fermented in stainless steel as opposed to the neutral oak puncheons used in the balance of the wine. This keeps the racy acids lively on the tongue. Our Sauvignon Blanc is a very useful wine to pair with light or spicy foods found in Pacific Rim cuisine.
A favorite pairing is with Thai dishes like we find at Zen Yai restaurant located near the winery on State Street. This wine is also a great match for many seafood preparations and salads.
Suggested retail: 15.00
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New Release:
Rosé wines are finally finding their way to the table as folks discover a keen affinity to several foods. More wineries are now making very pleasing robust rosé wines and moving beyond the insipid wines that were formerly associated with this wine color.
The sunny climes of the Mediterrianean have long celebrated the off-dry to dry styles of this wine for its ability to make an antipasta plate of cheese, olives, cured meats and bread sing. Centuries of being the “go to” wine for afternoon meals with friends and family have established this wine style as a serious and apprecitated addition to our table.
Winemaker Bruce McGuire has identified a great Syrah block in our neighbor’s vineyard for making a fine, off-dry rose’. Syrah is a difficult wine to make into a rose’, but Bruce found that if he destemmed the hand sorted fruit and let the juice and skins cold soak overnight followed by a light pressing the next day, the resulting wine showed off a stunning rose’ color.
Cool, stainless steel fermentation retains the exotic, bright fruit flavors and aromas balanced with firm acidity courtesy of the cold climate Santa Rita Hills. This wine is a perfect match for a Mediterranean lunch, seafood, or salads featuring tangy and sweet flavors.
Suggested retail: 15.00
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New Release:
Looking for interesting grapes to plant in his own small Santa Ynez Valley vineyard, and after consulting with winemaker Bruce MaGuire, Andrew Joughin, our vineyard manager, purchased the cuttings from vines originating in Italy. Primitivo is well known as the primary wine from the Puglia region of Italy where it was widely planted starting in the 1850’s.
Recent DNA comparison has shown that California’s Zinfandel, whose origin was, until now, unknown, is the same as Primitivo. In the Joughin Vineyard, which is warmer than our own, there is a true marriage of grape and place.
Winemaker Bruce MaGuire has made a marvellous wine that is deep, rich and well balanced. Wonderful with cheese and almost any dish.
Cases produced: 185
Suggested reatail price: 26.00
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For more statistics (pdf format)
Three new releases:
Lafond Vineyard 2005 Pinot Noir Clone 777
Lafond Vineyard 2005 Pinot Noir Clone 113
Lafond Vineyard 2006 Chardonnay Wente Clone
In viticultural terms grape clones are not really clones, there is no DNA manipulation. In every vineyard there are vines, which through natural mutation, produce grapes that are a little better than the others. This can range from color, flavor, bunch size or any other criteria. If the the characteristics are of sufficient value the grower may graft the wood from this vine to a standard root stock. It is still the same variety but with emphasis on the new characteristics for which it was selected.
Pinot Noir is the variety most susceptible to these mutations and in the past 20 years many of these new clones have been recognized and used in vineyards in California. In our vineyards we have 8 different Pinot Noir clones. Many we value as stand alone wines, and all, as components adding complexity to the final blend.
The three wines we are releasing include a Wente Clone Chardonnay. Selected from our best Chardonnay block, fermented and held in stainless steel, without malolactic fermentation. The result is a wine that brings out the full characteristics of this great grape – incredibly fruity and rich.
All thee wines are being sent to this months Wine Club Members.
Each wine is priced at 38.00 and for a very limited time we are offering the Three Wine Clone Selection for 99.00 + tax + 6.50 shipping charge.
For more information and to order.
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