Winemaker Notes Ladies, gentlemen and fruit flies, these are the 'Cliff's Notes' versions of our wine descriptions; if you have more questions email the winemaker! click here

2009 Black Zeppelin, Monterey
100% Petite Sirah; 90% Monterey, 10% Brady Vineyard, Paso Robles
14.5% alcohol, pH 3.68, R.S. .04%, 253 cases bottled

California suggested retail price, $50

A new varietal of flagship wine, nine barrels of this Black Zeppelin were made from a vineyard of clone 3 Petite Sirah in the Hames Valley in southwestern Monterey County, and was blended with a single barrel from the Brady Vineyard in Paso Robles.  The Hames Valley is normally one of the warmer sub-appellations of Monterey; however the 2009 vintage was cooler, enabling the fruit to keep more of its blackberry and plum flavors.  The Brady wine added structure and a different type of oak flavor; the finished wine shows dark fruit, pepper and spices, and a variety of oak and cedar flavors that contribute to the structure and long finish.  We expect to win a bunch of awards for this wine.  After it’s all gone, of course.
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2005 Red Zeppelin Syrah, Bear Valley Vineyard
14.5% alcohol, retail price $25

We have been making our most famous wine from this remote Monterey County vineyard for several years now, and this is the best vintage so far; deep spicy red cherry and plum fruit with mineral and cedar notes and an extremely long finish. Just released! There is 1% of a white grape varietal that was planted amongst the Syrah as the result of a nursery error, which we pick and use in the wine despite the fact that no two viticulturalists agree on what it is. Gold Medal, 2009 San Diego Intl. Wine Competition
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NV (2005/2006) Vinidiction, 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Syrah; Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties. 14.2% alcohol, retail price $30

A blend of Bear Valley and Paso Robles vineyards, this is a seamless and stunning mix of purple fruit and oak spice. An early frost while the 2005 Cabernet was still on the vine cost us that vintage, so we used our 2006 Cabernet instead. Just released! Best of Class (Cabernet/Syrah blends) Central Coast, 2009 California State Fair
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2007 Riesling, Santa Lucia Highlands
13.0% alcohol, retail price $20

The grapes for this slightly off-dry wine come from the coldest part of Monterey County, and the wonderful fruit and acid balance it perfectly. We added 5% Gewurztraminer for complexity. Just Released! Top Ten Whites Under $20, 2009 World Wine Championships
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2007 Red Zeppelin Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 4% Merlot, 3% Petite Sirah, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc. 6 barrels made: 147 cases
Retail price, $50

Primarily Halter Ranch (Westside) fruit with some exotic barrel treatment; it's quite a big wine, but rich and smooth once the tannins get some air. It's been called lovely already, what can we say? A bit of air for twenty minutes or more, or a few years in the bottle, the choice is yours!