Acquiesce Winery
Located in Lodi, Acquiesce was established in 2012 by owner/winemaker Sue Tipton and her husband Rodney. Acquiesce is unique in the Lodi region in that they produce only white and rosé wines, all sourced from their estate vineyard and made entirely in stainless steel tanks. Winemaker Christina Lopez poured the wines at the tasting. The 2023 Picpoul Blanc featured bright citrus and apple aromas with subtle floral notes, medium-light texture and vibrant acidity. The 2023 Clairette Blanche showed a stone fruit and pear profile, with medium weight and a pleasant slightly chalky texture and finish. Made entirely from Grenache, the 2024 Grenache Rosé had aromas of fresh strawberries, flowers, and herbs, with fine acidity and a long finish.
Alta Colina
Bob & Lynn Tillman founded Alta Colina over 20 years ago. Their estate vineyard is located in the hilly Adelaida District of Paso Robles, and their first vintage was in 2007. They’ve been Rhône specialists from the start. Both Bob and Lynn were on hand at the tasting. Their 2023 “12 O’Clock High” Estate Viognier displayed the variety’s peach and floral character and had a lively mouthfeel and finish. The 2024 Estate Carbonic Grenache had bright fresh strawberry aromas plus herbal and floral notes, with medium-light texture and a long, tasty finish, a fun rendition of Grenache.
Cline Family Cellars
Fred and Nancy Cline founded Cline Cellars in 1982, and they moved the winery from Oakley to the Carneros region in 1991. The family-run winery continues to work with fruit from Contra Costa County as well as from their vineyards in Carneros and the Petaluma Gap. The fruit for the 2024 Mourvèdre Rosé came from three Contra Costa County vineyards, and the wine featured bright red fruit, flowers, and a touch of fresh herbs, with a lively texture and finish. Also from Contra Costa, the 2023 “Ancient Vines” Mourvèdre was sourced from The Bridgehead and Big Break vineyards. This was earthy and spicy, with ripe plummy fruit and a subtle touch of oak, with good structure and firm tannins on the finish.
Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah!
 |
Winemaker Hardy Wallace – formerly of Dirty and Rowdy Family Winery – and his wife Kate Graham are the proprietors of Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah! They work with a range of grape varieties from many parts of California. Hardy was on hand to pour his wines at the tasting. From the Chalone AVA in Monterey County, the 2023 Brosseau Vineyard Grenache had red fruit and floral aromas along with a stony mineral note, with great texture and fine tannins. The 2022 Brosseau Vineyard Syrah displayed red and black fruit plus a smoked meat component, with medium body and a lively mouthfeel with a firm tannic finish. Not yet released, the 2023 Brosseau Vineyard Syrah was more floral, along with savory dried herbs and dark berry fruit aromas, with a lively texture and surprisingly fine tannins. From Contra Costa County, the 2023 Evangelho Vineyard Carignane had savory and earthy plum and black cherry fruit plus spice in support, with plenty of structure. The 2023 “Mourvèdre Yeah!” is a 50/50 blend of fruit from Rocca Vineyard in Shenandoah Valley and from Shake Ridge Ranch, both in Amador County in the Sierra Foothills. The wine displayed both red and black fruit, earth, and herb aromas, with medium weight and good structure for cellaring.
Lost Draw Cellar
From Texas, Lost Draw was founded in 2012 by winemaker Andrew Sides along with his uncle Andy Timmons and father-in-law Troy Ottmers. They work with fruit from the Texas High Plains and Hill Country grape-growing regions for their wines. The 2024 High Plains Picpoul Blanc had bright apple and citrus aromas plus notes of spice and flowers, with a medium-light mouthfeel and lively finish. The 2023 High Plains GSM – mostly Grenache and Syrah – displayed upfront black cherry and plum fruit and spice plus earth and a subtle oak note in support, with fine structure and moderate tannins.
Ridge Vineyards
 |
The first Ridge wines, made by Dave Bennion, were from 1962, and Paul Draper led the winemaking from 1971 until 2016. John Olney now heads up the winemaking team – Trester Goetting is the winemaker at Monte Bello while Shauna Rosenblum is the winemaker at the Lytton Springs facility. David Gates, who’s in charge of vineyard operations, poured the Ridge wines at the tasting. Sourced from Paso Robles, the 2024 Grenache Blanc had aromas of citrus and stone fruit, flowers, plus a hint of stony minerals, with bright acidity and a long, fresh finish. The 2023 Sandy Lane Vineyard Carignane from Contra Costa County featured loads of upfront black cherry and raspberry fruit along with spice and mildly floral notes, with fairly mild tannins. In contrast, the 2023 Buchignani Vineyard Carignane from Alexander Valley had more subdued fruit with earth and herbs leading the way, plus a chalky mineral texture and more tannic finish. The 2022 Lytton Estate Syrah Grenache Mataro displayed both red and black fruit aromas along with grilled meat and spice components, good structure, and a tangy finish.
Starfield Vineyards
Located in El Dorado County in the Sierra Foothills, Starfield was established in 2011 by father and son Tom and Rob Sinton. Their estate vineyard is at about 2,400-foot elevation, and they work mainly with Rhône and Italian grape varieties. Rob makes the wines and was behind the table at the tasting. Made from nearly all Grenache and made by the traditional Méthode Champenoise, the 2022 Sparkling Brut Rosé had bright and intense fresh strawberry aromas plus a floral note, with fine bubbles. My favorite of the Starfield reds at the tasting was the 2020 “Bronson Bros.” – this is a GSM blend with a little Petite Sirah and Cinsaut, named in honor of the area’s first winemakers from 1857. This wine displayed black cherry and plum, earth, spice, and savory herbs, with a pleasant texture and finish.
|
Tablas Creek Vineyard
 |
Founded in 1989, Tablas Creek has a 270-acre estate vineyard in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles – it’s now certified for organic, biodynamic, and regenerative organic farming. They purchase fruit from a number of other noted vineyards as well. Jason Haas heads up the winery, while Neil Collins is the longtime winemaker. The 2024 Grenache Blanc had upfront citrus and green apple fruit along with touches of flowers and earth, with a lively mouthfeel and finish. From the new Lignée de Tablas line of wines, sourced from California vineyards planted to Tablas Creek clones of Rhône grape varieties, the 2024 “Lignée de Tablas” Fenaughty Vineyard is a blend of Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, and Roussanne. This had upfront guava and other tropical fruit plus notes of spice and flowers, medium body, and a clean finish. The 2023 Terret Noir featured red fruit and pepper aromas with an herbal note, medium weight with moderate tannins. With Mourvèdre as the lead component of the 2021 “Esprit de Tablas” – along with Grenache, Syrah, Vaccarèse, Cinsaut, and Counoise – this was plummy and spicy, with earth and herb notes, fine structure, and chalky tannins on the finish.
Tercero Wines
 |
Larry Schaffer started his Tercero label with the 2006 vintage and he’s focused on Tercero full-time since 2011. His specialty is wines from Rhône grape varieties, and he sources his fruit exclusively from Santa Barbara County vineyards. All of the Tercero reds are whole-cluster fermented. Larry was on hand to pour his wines at the tasting. Made entirely in stainless steel, the 2023 Picpoul Blanc displayed bright green apple and citrus aromas, with vibrant acidity and a fresh finish. The 2017 “Verbiage Blanc” – 50% Grenache Blanc plus Roussanne and Marsanne – had stone fruit, earth, and spice notes plus a hint of flowers, with medium-rich texture and a long finish. One of my favorite rosé wines at the tasting, the 2022 Mourvèdre Rosé had red fruit and watermelon with herb and floral notes in support, medium-light weight and a lively finish. The 2015 Mourvèdre featured black cherry fruit, spice, dried herbs, and a stony mineral note, with good structure for continued development.
Thacher Winery and Vineyard
Founded by vintner Sherman Thacher in 2004, the family-run winery is located in the hills west of Paso Robles. They work with fruit from the Central Coast, including their own organically-farmed estate vineyard. The 2024 Pét-Nat was sourced from the estate vineyard and is a blend of Grenache, Cinsaut, and Viognier. This had pear and stone fruit aromas plus touches of spice and flowers, with fine bubbles. Fermented and aged in concrete, the 2022 Homestead Hill Vineyard Grenache displayed upfront bright red fruit and background notes of flowers and herbs, with a lively mouthfeel and moderate tannins.
The Grenachista Wine Company
 |
Casey Graybehl launched his Grenachista label in 2013. His focus is exclusively on Grenache – Blanc, Gris, and Noir – and he produces a number of bottlings and styles from several vineyards. He has a small estate vineyard in Sonoma Valley and makes his wines in Sonoma. Casey poured his wines at the tasting. Sourced from Sonoma Valley, the 2024 Grenache Rosé had fresh strawberry aromas plus a floral note, with vibrant acidity and a clean finish. The 2024 Grenache Gris from Mounts Vineyard in Dry Creek Valley is the winery’s first ever bottling of this variety, and was made in the style of a white wine rather than a rosé, using very gentle direct press prior to fermentation. This featured citrus and pear aromas along with a savory herbal note, medium-light body, and a lively mouthfeel and finish. From northern Mendocino County, the 2021 Alder Springs Vineyard Grenache was fermented entirely with whole clusters and displayed savory herbal and red fruit aromas with a touch of spice, and good structure for additional time in the cellar. Also whole-cluster fermented, the 2021 Cottonwood Vineyard Grenache from Napa Carneros had upfront spice along with red and black cherry fruit and notes of flowers and earth, with a pleasant texture and fine tannins.
Troon Vineyard
 |
Located in southern Oregon’s Applegate Valley, Troon was founded in 1972. Since 2017, the 50-acre vineyard has been gradually replanted with about 20 grape varieties and has received both biodynamic and regenerative organic farming certifications. Garett Long is the director of agriculture and Nate Wall is the winemaker. General manager Craig Camp heads up the team at Troon, and was behind the winery table at the event. The new Ascendant line of Troon wines is intended for a bit more aging, and the 2023 “Ascendant” Rosé, from Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Counoise, and Carignan, was made in neutral barrels. This showed both stone fruit and red fruit aromas plus touches of flowers and spice, with medium-light body and a long finish. A skin-fermented blend of Vermentino, Viognier, and Grenache Blanc, the 2023 “Ascendant” Amber featured pear and stone fruit, earth and spice, with medium weight and a pleasant, slightly chalky texture and finish. The 2023 “Amphora” Mourvèdre, made in terra cotta amphorae, had plum and darker berry fruit, earth, iron, and dried herb aromas, with good structure for cellaring.
Two Shepherds
Winemaker William Allen established Two Shepherds in 2010 and he was joined by Karen Daenen in 2015. They farm a small estate vineyard in Russian River Valley and buy fruit from many other sites in Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lodi. They make their wines in the town of Windsor in Sonoma County, and produce wines in cans as well as in bottles. Sourced from the Dunnigan Hills northwest of Sacramento, the 2023 JDM Organic Farm Clairette Blanche was made in both stainless steel and neutral barrels. This wine displayed bright pear and stone fruit with background notes of flowers and herbs, medium-light body, and a lively finish. From the estate vineyard and aged in neutral oak, the 2022 Aria & Austin’s Vineyard Grenache Noir had aromas of red and black cherry, flowers, and earth, with medium weight on the palate and moderate tannins.
William Chris Vineyards
William Chris was established in 2008 by William "Bill" Blackmon and Chris Brundrett in the Texas Hill Country wine region. The winery works to express the distinctiveness of Texas growing regions in their wines. Sourced from the Texas High Plains, the 2024 Alta Loma Vineyard Picpoul Blanc was made entirely in stainless steel. This had bright citrus aromas with a subtle floral touch, and a lively mouthfeel and finish. Aged in neutral oak, the 2023 Vintage Press Vineyard Grenache came from a site in the Texas Hill Country, and featured upfront red fruit, a savory herbal component, plus a subtle touch of flowers, with medium body and fine tannins. The 2023 Vintage Press Vineyard Syrah was savory and spicy, with darker berry fruit, earth, and a floral note, with a bigger texture and firm tannic finish.
|
