Winemaker Notes
 

2004 Contrarian

If you only like red wines, this is the white wine for you. 62% Roussanne (one of the great Rhone Varietals), 38% Viognier (the other great Rhone Varietal). There are other great varietals, but not in this wine. Aromas of honey dew melon, hints of anise and the mouth texture of a red wine. What more could you ask for?

*Rated 93 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Issue #159

2004 Disciple
80% Viognier, 20% Roussanne

This is the opposite of the Contrarian. Much sweeter fruit; notes of pineapple, pear, and mango jump out of the glass with flashing visions of a tropical paradise. We only made 52 cases of this nectar that drinks perfectly on a hot summer/fall barbeque day.

 
*Rated 90 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Issue #159

2004 Problem Child
72% Zinfandel, 17% Mourvedre, 11% Syrah

As a young kid, I realized that listening to my parents was optional. This led to fears that I would one day be incarcerated for my defiance. Of course the incarceration never happened and now only the echoes of hearing “one day you’ll have kids of your own!” rings loudly in my ears. Well, here is one of my kids, the 2004 Problem Child.

 
*Rated 92 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Issue #165

2004 Leona’s
74% Zinfandel, 21% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre
 

Inaugural release. Another great farmer from the Westside of Paso Robles, Leona Mastan nurtures her 33 year old, 17 acre Zinfandel Vineyard like a small flower garden! Field-planted with Alicante.

 
*Rated 91+ points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Issue #165

2004 Outsider
68% Zinfandel, 20% Syrah, 12% Mourvedre
 

The fruit for the Outsider comes from Northern facing slopes and some lower lying areas where the soil is deeper and the temperatures are cooler. These factors produce less acid in the grape and a glycerin-like mouthfeel. Aged in both new American oak and neutral barrels, the wine gains an edge of spice and earth. I find it amazing how different two wines can be – Leona’s from the Southern exposures and Outsider from the Northern exposures.

 
*Rated 92 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Issue #166

2004 Cherry Red
58% Zinfandel, 27% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre
 

Named after Elmer and Mary Cherry and planted in 1977, this dry farmed, head trained Zinfandel vineyard continuously produces an intense fruit. I first tried this wine in 1992 with the 1990 vintage and fell in love. Originally used for home winemaking and blended with Petite Sirah, in 1998 we decided to share it with the public. Always really ripe, always really acidic, and always really good. Since 1998 we have been blending in portions of Syrah, and Mourvedre. The beautiful fruit flavors of Cherry Red are layered and layered and leave you wishing for a bottomless bottle.

 
*Rated 95 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Issue #165

2004 Sweet Leona
Dessert Zinfandel

Every few years, I am bitten by the dessert wine bug. For this wine I started with the most heavily dessicated Zinfandel clusters, and then destemmed the clusters twice to knock off all the raisins. After filling the fermenter with raisins, I removed the free run juice to concentrate the sugar. This process produced about 38-40 brix (percent sugar). The yeast then performed their magic leaving 16.8% alcohol and 12% residual sugar.

2004 Sticks & Stones
57% Grenache, 23% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre

A gigantic fruit bomb that explodes in your mouth. For this wine I look for the most distinctive Grenache barrels and then find complementary Syrah and Mourvedre. The Syrah adds a lushness to the wine, while the Mourvedre adds a subtle hint of rustic earthiness. Aged in French and Hungarian barrels, 30% new.

 *Rated 95 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Issue #166

2004 Rising Tides
40% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre

This explosively perfumed wine dances across your palette with robust flavors of black currant, raspberry, cedar, and earth. Partially co-fermented and blended one year prior to bottling, every part of this wine is synergistic, yet balanced. Can you taste the Grenache? Can you taste the Syrah? Is the Mourvedre overpowering? You be the judge!

 *Rated 95+ points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Issue #166

2004 Nemesis
80% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, 5% Grenache

From Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Issue #166:

"Exhibits an open-knit, flamboyant, exuberant nose of black fruits, flowers and spice. It displays great intensity on the palate, a savory, broad, expansive, mouth feel, superb purity, and a long, layered finish. Consume this stunning red over the next decade or more.”  95+ points