Late Spring Release
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2022 Spring Release
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2021 Rosé Release
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2022 Winter Release
| Happy 2022 Everyone! We hope that you are all doing well despite the ongoing Covid situation. It seems as though we are handling this omicron surge fairly well, which is encouraging. Winemakers inherently have an optimistic streak in them, as we have discussed many times in the past. Speaking of optimism, we are buoyed by the December weather here in the Santa Ynez Valley. We have enjoyed a wet and cold December and early January, which is always great news for the upcoming season. The rain is obviously critical for flushing the soils of salts and building up a moisture profile for the vines to draw from. 2020 and 2021 were low rainfall years, and the ground has proved it was very dry. Fortunately, the rainfall came intermittently, and the soil was able to absorb it without runoff. We will continue to need more rainfall, so keep thinking rainy thoughts! From an aesthetic point of view, the wet December has meant the hills are turning green, which makes a marvelous contrast to the bright blue skies and the brilliant yellow sunshine. It really is magically beautiful this time of year. When it comes to growing Chardonnay (& Pinot Noir, of course), Santa Barbara also has magical qualities. The vines enjoy a cool climate and long growing season, allowing for excellent flavor development, with excellent acidity and structure. It is now time to showcase the region’s excellence with two new 2019 Chardonnays (Rita’s Crown and Duvarita vineyards). The 2019 vintage was spectacular, the wines are highly rated, and these wines are just singing right now, with many years of development ahead of them. We are also releasing the always popular 2019 Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard; however, this wine is so limited that we only have enough for the Wine Club members. We suggest that you all consider joining a wine club to obtain access to our most allocated wines, such as the 2019 Pinot Noir, Fiddlestix. As most of you know, we make tiny quantities of most of our wines, and they sell out fast. Almost all of our Pinot Noirs, for instance, are allocated almost exclusively to the wine club, and in fact have been sold out for most of the last two years. Joining the club gives you guaranteed access to or most allocated wines. We hate to see anyone disappointed. Join us! |
| The Wines |
| In addition to growing great Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara has been recognized as one of very best places to grow Chardonnay grapes. The cool ocean influence, with daily fog and wind allows the development of beautiful ripe flavors, while the relatively cool climate permits retention of critical acidity and marine soils provide a sense of minerality. Thus, we were inspired to include a small amount of very particular Chardonnay into our portfolio. They have all been very well received by critics and customers alike. The wines are balanced, with beautiful fruit components lifted by driving, energetic acidity and structure from careful use of new and used oak barrels. 2019 Chardonnay, Rita’s Crown Vineyard (Sta. Rita Hills) 95 Points Jeb Dunnuck & 94 Points Antonio Galloni Rita’s Crown sits majestically at some of the highest elevations in the Sta. Rita Hills. We source fruit from steep, south and southwest facing blocks of sand and clay loam with abundant diatomaceous earth. Daily winds and fog deliver a strong marine influence resulting in an interesting saline note in the wines, along with the chalky minerals from the soils. Ripeness is delivered through the long season, not high temperatures. Yields are low. The Chardonnay in this block typically sets between a ton and a half and three tons per acre from a relatively small canopy. In 2019 it was closer to two TPA. These low yields and long cool season result in ripeness at incredibly strong acid levels. We think this is a hallmark of great sites. The wines are dramatic and expressive, with a tremendously long finish. The 2019 wine fermented in French oak barrels, 30% new. The resulting wine went through partial malolactic fermentation in barrel and was then aged for 18 months on its lees, without stirring, before selection, blending and bottling. Jeb Dunnuck gushed over this wine, giving it 95 Points, and stated: “…the 2019 Chardonnay Rita’s Crown Vineyard offers another level of richness without compromising on purity or focus. Lemon, ripe orchard fruits, iodine, and chalky mineral notes all flow to a medium-bodied Chardonnay with good acidity and a long, layered profile on the palate. Aged 18 months in a mix of small and larger barrels (30% new), it’s another head-turning good wine from this team.” Galloni gave it 94 points, calling the wine, “powerful, deep and structured.” Extremely Limited: Only 230 Cases Produced. 2019 Chardonnay, Duvarita Vineyard (Santa Barbara County) 95 Points Antonio Galloni In addition to fantastic Pinot Noir, the biodynamic Duvarita Vineyard grows intense yet balanced Chardonnay from its gentle slopes of sandy soils further down the hill. Wines here are medium bodied and elegant, with a stony minerality and a remarkable depth of flavor. These wines evolve slowly and will absolutely repay bottle aging (under appropriate storage conditions). In 2019, the vineyard produced s very small crop of 2.4 tons per acre across two sections (Clones 548 and 76). The grapes were gently pressed, settled overnight and then fermented and aged one their lees in French oak barrels (20 % new) for 17 months. Antonio Galloni gave this wine 95 points, stating: The 2019 Chardonnay Duvarita Vineyard is transparent, nuanced and so exceptionally vivid. Apricot, tangerine oil, white flowers, mint, crushed rocks and white flowers are all finely sculpted. The 2019 dazzles with its saline, infused minerality, tension and outstanding balance. Extremely Limited: Only 200 Cases Produced. 2019 Pinot Noir, Fiddlestix Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills (*Wine Club Only) Fiddlestix sits in the climactic “goldilocks zone” of the Santa Rosa Road corridor, across the street from Sanford & Benedict and across the river from Sea Smoke and Rita’s Crown. This area gets just the right balance of sunshine, fog and wind to ripen the fickle Pinot Noir while retaining proper balance in the grapes. Soils include botella clay loam, Monterey shale and pockets of chert. We lease six separate blocks and clones here, each of which adds complexity to the final blend. The 2019 vintage was excellent at Fiddlestix. The vines enjoyed the long cool season, and we picked the grapes in early to mid-September at good ripeness and exceptional acidity. The grapes were fermented with 10% whole clusters, and the wine aged for 19 months in top quality French oak barrels (37% new). The 2019 wine is concentrated and complex, with great the typical red spectrum fruits (cranberry, cherry, pomegranate) and spices (cinnamon, nutmeg & clove) and perhaps a bit more punch that the 2018. The wine evolves beautifully in the glass, suggesting a solid aging curve. Drink 2022 – 2032+ The 2019 has not yet been critically rated, but the 2018 version was 96 Galloni and 94+ from Jeb Dunnuck. We think this one is every bit as good. It will be sold out long before it is ever rated. Only 375 cases produced; this wine is a wine club exclusive. Join a wine club before January 24, 2022 to obtain an allocation of this special wine. |
| In Conclusion A special thanks goes out to our employees, both in the cellar and in the Tasting Room/Winery. They have been out there on the front lines, masked and armed with disinfectant. They have kept Tasting Programs expertly humming along, wowing guests with knowledge and hospitality and fun despite the challenges. We know that you appreciate the great job they do as well. Give them a big shout out next time you are in town. |
Fall Rhone Release
Fall Release – Rhone Wines
Greetings Everyone:
We are taking a very short pause from Harvest to announce the release of our 2019 Rhone-styled (Syrah and Grenache) wines from the terrific 2019 vintage (the 2018 vintage of the MJM). Harvest has been moving along at a measured pace in the cool year we have been having here. We know the rest of the West has been baking all Spring and Summer, but here in Santa Barbara, the mighty pacific has kept things foggy and windy for the most part.
Some Notes on the 2019 Vintage
2019 was a classic cool-climate year in the Sta. Rita Hills & Ballard Canyon. A wet and cold winter cleansed vineyard soils and provided a good profile of soil moisture. A cool Spring helped delay budbreak until late March and to control vigor. Cool and windy conditions around bloom resulted in an extended flowering, but we saw decent set in Syrah. June was warm, but July and early August were generally cooler and ripening slow. Late August introduced significant heat, which was welcome to ripen the sun-loving grapes. Unevenness required several passes to remove green or damaged clusters. September was generally cool and sunny, as was October, allowing for us to harvest at precise times, under ideal conditions (long, cool mornings).
As for the wines, they were made in such small quantities and we have had to wait to release them until the wine club shipment. We expect them to sell out fast, so act fast.
The Wines
2019 Syrah, John Sebastiano Vineyard (Sta Rita Hills)
**Note to Wine Club Members – This wine will appear in your Fall 2021 Shipment (October 2021).
This dramatic hillside site lies on the eastern border of the Sta. Rita Hills and is one of the coolest sites planted to Rhone varietals in all of California. We pay extra to have our carefully selected hillside blocks farmed organically. Each block contains a different clone and rootstock combination (470 on 5BB, Estrella and 383 are own rooted). The steep hillside soils are clay-loam over limestone. The cool wind and fog at this site provide for an extremely long season. These grapes produce a dark, intensely aromatic wine, with cool black and blue berry fruits, great freshness, mineral lift and solid structure for aging. We have made a single vineyard Syrah from this site since 2013, as the alluring aromas and flavors simply had to be showcased on their own.
The Wine
A blend of three separate blocks and clones (470, 383, Estrella), each of which was picked separately in multiple passes as ripeness developed. The grapes were fermented separately in 1.5-ton, open top fermenters (85% destemmed; 15% whole cluster) by native yeasts. At dryness, we combined free run and gently pressed lots and transferred them to French oak barrels (228L barriques and a few 400L barrels), 15 percent new, with various coopers (Sylvain, Ermitage, Seguin Moreau) and toast levels (M, ML, M+). The wine undergoes spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrel and no additional sulfur was added (there is a small amount added to the juice the day of harvest/processing) until MLF was complete in April, 2020. The wine was ultimately aged on its lees for 9 months before selection and blending, then the blended wine returned to barrel for an additional 8 months before bottling. The wine is fantastic in this cooler, more elegant year. Drinkable now, it will improve for 7-15 years or longer.
Extremely Limited. 380 cases produced. As a Wine Club wine, this wine is allocated. Make your request today.
2019 Seven (Syrah) (Santa Ynez Valley)
**Note to Wine Club Members – This wine will appear in your Spring 2022 Shipment (April 2022).
Seven is our Syrah-based blend, originally named for the seven exceptional cool climate vineyard sites from which it was comprised. Over the years we have refined our vineyard sources (dropping some, expanding into others), selecting precise blocks and clones to increase aromatic and flavor complexity. The 2019 Seven is comprised of 95% Syrah, 4% Grenache and 1% Viognier sourced from top-flight vineyards in Sta. Rita Hills and Ballard Canyon: Stolpman (45%), Spear (30%), Larner (10%), Kimsey (10%), & John Sebastiano (5%). The wine was aged in French oak barriques, 400L, and 500L puncheons (5% new) for 9 months before being blended and then returned to barrel for an additional 8 months aging before bottling.
We are thrilled with the performance of this wine, as it is already beginning to show explosive, complex aromatics (red, blue and black fruits, spices and meats), a rich smooth palate, with vibrant, layered red, blue and purple fruits, but also plenty of structure to provide a long finish for such a young wine. We expect this wine to continue to develop for 5-10 years and to last for well over a decade after that.
Very Limited. Only 450 cases produced.
2018 MJM (Syrah)
**Note to Wine Club Members – This wine will appear in your Winter 2022 Shipment (January 2022).
MJM is our flagship, Syrah-based blend, named in honor of our wives Michelle, Jen and Mitchi. We farm Syrah from several precise blocks in both Ballard Canyon and Sta. Rita Hills, and we select only the finest, most dramatic, barrels for this blend, to which we add small amounts of Grenache (a small amount of Viognier is co-fermented with the Syrah). The resulting wine is given additional aging until we feel it is ready for bottling. Depending upon vintage, élevage lasts anywhere from 24 to 34 months.
The 2018 Vintage was generally cool, with a short period of heat in August, but well before the Syrah was close to ripe. September turned very cool, and the grapes ripened very slowly, ultimately being picked throughout October. The grapes had great color and intensity, but with a real sense of freshness from the excellent acidity. The 2018 MJM was crafted from wines from John Sebastiano (54%), Stolpman (32%), Larner (7%) & Kimsey (7%). Clones included 470, 383, Estrella, 174, Alban 1, and 3. This dramatically intense wine was aged for a total of 27 months in the finest French oak cooperage (Sylvain, Ermitage & Seguin Moreau) of which 55% was new.
The 2018 MJM will drink well early for its exuberant fruit and ripe structure, but it also has terrified concentration and balance for aging. Indeed, it reminds us of the 2016, another vintage showing freshness and exuberant fruits.
The wine was rated in barrel by Jeb Dunnuck who gave it 95-97+ Points and said:
“The 2018 Syrah MJM will spend another two years in barrels, but it looks to be screaming good at this point. Stunning black fruits, smoked game, charred meat, and peppery goodness all give way to a full-bodied, powerful Syrah that has a stacked mid-palate, ripe tannins, and flawless balance.”
Extremely Limited. Only 340 cases produced, and most of that will go to the Wine Club in the Winter Shipment (early February 2022). We suggest acting fast on this one.
LINK: Order wines here
2019 Grenache, John Sebastiano Vineyard (Sta Rita Hills)
Grenache at John Sebastiano grows on a steep, south-east facing hillside of almost pure sand on the eastern edge of the block and slightly heavier sandy clay loam toward the west and at the bottom of the block. The block is typically picked very late but at relatively low sugar levels for Grenache. These grapes produce a cool, energetic, mineral-laden wine with juicy, high toned, aromatic red fruits, fresh herbs, and good structure for aging.
In the cool 2019 vintage, the Grenache was harvested in late October at relatively low sugars. We did not see sufficient stem ripeness to permit whole cluster fermentation and decided to destem 100% of the Grenache (typically we use up to 25% whole clusters). The grapes were fermented in 1.5-ton, open top fermenters by native yeasts. At dryness, we drained the free run juice and gently pressed the remaining berries, and then transferred the wine to large French oak barrels (1200L Muid, 600 L, Demi-Muid and 500L puncheons) for aging. The wine undergoes spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrel. The wine was ultimately aged on its lees for 16 months before blending and bottling. The wine is fantastic in this cooler, more elegant year, with bright strawberry and raspberry fruits, fresh herbs and spices, fabulous texture and a very long finish from great structure. Enjoyable now, the wine will improve for 5-7 years and hold much longer.
Extremely Limited. Only 140 cases produced.
In Conclusion
We now return to the harvest. It will be a big push to the finish line, but we are ready to pick everything at just the right time. If you want to see some harvest action, book a winery tasting. And of course Los Olivos is beautiful this time of year. We look forward to seeing you soon at either the Tasting Room or the Study in Los Olivos, or at the Winery in Buellton.
Cheers,
John, Steve, Brandon and the entire Dragonette Cellars team
Sauvignon Blanc Release
Welcome to Harvest 2021!
We had a long, mostly cool growing season, surprising as it may seem. The crazy temperatures seen in northern, eastern and southern California (and Oregon and Washington and Montana!) throughout August did not arrive here in the Santa Ynez Valley. We knocked on wood for months convinced that we had some of the best weather in the entire West, but not wanting to jinx ourselves. In fact, even in Happy Canyon, August was downright mild, with foggy mornings, abundant sunshine and heat up to the mid 90’s and then cooling winds. Mornings were generally in the 40’s, giving us the classic Santa Ynez Valley diurnal swing of 40 and up to 50 degrees. Our friend the mighty Pacific had again helped deliver a splendid growing season for Sauvignon Blanc.
The grapes slowly made their way to maturity. We had avoided the seriously crazy heat spikes (115 degrees!) of 2020. On the last day of August, we began picking Sauvignon Blanc out in Happy Canyon. Over Labor Day weekend (shocker!) we had some more intense heat (up to 102) and thus we jumped into the Sauvignon Blanc in earnest, largely finishing by September 9. The sugars were bumped slightly by the heat, but the solid acids were still intact. Yields were generally very good, and we are very much looking forward to making this juice into wine over the coming weeks.
Next up will be Pinot Noir from Sta. Rita Hills. As most of you know by now, the east-west valley turns much cooler as you get closer to Lompoc, where it is often foggy all day long. The temperatures here rarely crest 80, giving an exceptionally long season for Pinot Noir. The rule has held true so far in 2021. The esteemed Fiddlestix Vineyard was again the first Pinot Noir pick in the week after Labor Day, with some other sites not too far behind. The Pinot Noirs so far show tremendous flavors at modest sugars, and they seemingly have excellent acids. We think these first lots will be great with some significant whole cluster fermentation…More on that later, but all this talk of grapes has made us thirsty.
New Release of Highly Acclaimed Sauvignon Blancs
In order to celebrate picking though the 2021 Sauvignon Blanc grapes, and in keeping with the warm sunny weather, we thought it an opportune time to release the new Sauvignon Blancs to the world. These include the three single vineyard Sauvignon Blancs from the fabulous 2019 vintage and the new Happy Canyon blend from the miracle vintage of 2020. The crop was small in 2019, and these were made in small quantities, with most reserved for the Wine Club. Small quantities and fantastic reviews suggest these wines will not last long.
As most of you know, Sauvignon Blanc is one of the great wine grapes of the world, as noble as they come. Properly farmed for quality it can produce astounding wines. We think this release contains some of our best ever from this fantastic grape.
The Wines
2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Happy Canyon
This is our appellation blend Sauvignon Blanc, though that moniker barely tells the story. This wine is sourced from spectacular vineyards, each of which creates single vineyard wines that are among the best in California, if not the world. We chose lots from each of these vineyards that have a more energetic, taut and lively character, and age these wines for 8 months on the lees in a mixture of 88% used oak and 12% stainless steel. The wine performs well in providing energy and complex flavor, a point made well by Jeb Dunnuck in his yearly reviews (August 2021). The 2020 Happy Canyon received 90 points, and Jeb had this to say about the wine:
A classic, age-worthy Sauvignon well worth seeking out, the 2020 Sauvignon Blanc Happy Canyon from Dragonette offers up a light gold hue as well as a beautiful, Bordeaux Blanc-like array of lemon curd, crushed citrus, white flowers, and chalky minerality. Drink this balanced, elegant, juicy, and just pretty and lively Sauvignon over the coming 4-5 years.
The 2020 vintage was very low yielding and we made less of this wine than usual. As in 40% less. Limited, and a great wine for the rest of the summer and next summer and the summer after that. Enjoy!
2019 Sauvignon Blanc, Grassini Family Vineyard
** Wine Club Wine, Fall 2020
2019 marks the twelfth vintage we have worked with Grassini fruit. We buy this fruit by the acre, allowing us to employ our own vineyard management techniques. Over the years we have honed those techniques, and we are happier than ever with the way the vineyard has performed.
The 2019 wine was fermented and aged in French oak barrels (228L) and Cigars (300L), 10% of which were new. The wine was aged on its lees for 16 months before bottling. The wine shows its usual kaleidoscopic aromas and flavors, with nice lift from vibrant, yet round and lip-smacking acidity.
Jeb Dunnuck had this to say, and while we love the “96 points” he gave the wine, we prefer the language he used, to wit:
“I’d wager one of the finest examples of this variety in California, the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc Grassini Family Vineyard reveals a lighter gold hue as well as a brilliant array of crushed citrus, lime, fresh fig, green almonds, and crushed rock-like minerality. Based on 100% Sauvignon Blanc that was barrel fermented and aged in just 10% new French oak, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a concentrated, vibrant mouthfeel, bright and integrated acidity, and great finish. This puppy will keep for two decades.
Very little of this wine will be left after the wine club, so act fast.
2019 Sauvignon Blanc, Grimm’s Bluff Vineyard
From its inception, Grimm’s Bluff has been painstakingly and biodynamically farmed for top quality grapes, yields be damned. The vineyard produces extremely low yielding, highly concentrated fruit, and we selected three separate blocks (head trained clone 1, VSP clone 1 and VSP musque clone) for this wine, which is aged exclusively in French oak barrels and Cigars, a portion of which is new (light long toast). Here the wood frames the wine, stretching it and lengthening it so that the finish lasts minutes.
In 2019, we aged the wine for 15 months on its lees in French oak of various shapes and sizes (30% new). The resulting wine is comprised of 82% clone 1 and 18% musque clone. As is typical, this wine is simply packed with flavor and texture; it is more of a gymnast than of a defensive lineman. The wine is tightly coiled and ready to burst onto the palate like Simone Biles exploding into one of her namesake vaults. Loaded with minerals, melons and stone fruits, the wine sticks to the palate and finishes long and intense. It should age for a long time.
Jeb Dunnuck gave it 93 points and said,
“The 2019 Sauvignon Blanc Grimm’s Bluff Vineyard offers a similar Bordeaux Blanc-like array of pineapple, lemon curd, and crushed stone as well as terrific minerality, medium body, bright acidity, and a great finish…it is beautiful, elegant, and balanced, and will keep for two decades as well.”
This wine is extremely limited, only 150 cases were produced.
2019 Sauvignon Blanc, Vogelzang Vineyard **Wine Club Wine: Winter 2022
Vogelzang is one of the most celebrated Sauvignon Blanc sites in California. We have leased several acres here since 2009, and our long experience here has paid off, as our farming strategies produce singular wines here.
In 2019 the grapes were fermented in 100% French oak barrels and cigars (20% new) and aged for 17 months on the lees before bottling. The resulting wine shows classic Vogelzang character of powerful stone fruit, mango and pineapple flavors, with great concentration and texture, but with a laser like spine of acidity and mineral character. The 2019 will drink well upon release, but should age for 12-18 years on its great underlying material. Drink 2022-2033+.
Jeb Dunnuck gave the wine 97 points, which really is unheard of for Sauvignon Blanc. He said:
“The 2019 Sauvignon Blanc Vogelzang Vineyard …just blew me away. More subtle and reserved, its thrilling notes of crushed limes, lemons, sappy flowers, and minerality give way to a medium to full-bodied, deep, layered, multi-dimensional Sauvignon Blanc with tremendous mid-palate depth, bright acidity, and laser-like precision. You could put this in a blind lineup of top Bordeaux Blanc and it would stand toe to toe. Hats off to the team at Dragonette for a commitment to fashioning incredible, age-worthy Sauvignon Blanc that’s as good as anything out there!”
Extremely Limited. Only 260 cases produced, the large majority of which will go straight to the Wine Club in February. Act fast, this is always a favorite.
In Conclusion
We look forward to seeing you soon at either the Tasting Room or the Study in Los Olivos, or at the Winery in Buellton. Harvest is a wonderful time to visit, as the collective excitement seems to permeate the area. Try the Winery Tasting Option and get a look at the team in action…
Cheers,
John, Steve, Brandon and the entire Dragonette Cellars team
Mid-Summer Release
August 2021
Mid-Summer Release
The Very Rare 2019 Chardonnay Black Label and the 2019 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills
Greetings:
We are happy to announce the release of two new Chardonnays from the terrific 2019 vintage, both of which are made in miniscule quantities, and which challenge the notion that California Chardonnay must be big, thick and blowsy. First, the flagship chardonnay, the ultra-limited, reserve-level “Black Label” Chardonnay, which displays laser like acidity and structure, holding up dramatic tropical fruits and rocky minerals. Second, the white label 2019 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills which is a worthy successor to the 2018 version, which was dubbed “a textbook Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay” (and given 93 points) by Jeb Dunnuck. Both Chardonnays show the cool climate of Sta. Rita Hills, which allows for solid ripeness over a long slow growing season, while preserving critical acidity, and both are made is such small quantities that you will want to get some before they are gone.
Some Notes on the 2019 Vintage
2019 was a classic cool-climate year in the Sta. Rita Hills. A wet and cold winter cleansed vineyard soils and provided a good profile of soil moisture. A cool Spring helped delay budbreak until late March and to control vigor. Cool and windy conditions around bloom resulted in an extended flowering, but we saw decent set in Chardonnay. June was warm, but July and early August were generally cooler, which moderated ripening. Some late August heat boosted ripeness, but there were no dangerous heat spikes. September was generally cool and sunny, allowing for us to harvest at precise times, under ideal conditions (long, cool mornings).
The Wines
2019 Chardonnay, Black Label (Sta. Rita Hills)
Much like our Black Label Pinot Noir, this wine is a reserve-level blend of our favorite barrels from the vintage. The 2019 is crafted from three of the most extreme, cold, wind-battered, low yielding sites in Sta Rita Hills (if not anywhere). Thus, we combined wines from rocky, windswept Bentrock (50%), steep, diatomaceous Rita’s Crown (25%) and the salty, marine and gale force wind influenced Radian (25%). These difficult sites, produce small clusters of thick skinned, tiny berry Chardonnay that has massive punch, but also strong acidity and minerality. The wine was fermented and aged on its lees in French oak barriques (75% new) with partial malolactic fermentation occurring spontaneously in barrel. The resulting wine is aged for 18 months on its lees without stirring, before selection, blending and bottling.
This dramatic wine displays incredibly concentrated flavors of fruit, minerals, spices and flowers, which are held aloft by tremendous acidity and structure from the skins and from lightly toasted new oak barrels. The wine has a terrific, complex finish that lasts for minutes and portends a good future over the medium term. The wine is on par qualitatively with the 96-point 2018 version. We suspect similar numbers, but given how fast the 2108 disappeared, we doubt there will be any left by the time it is reviewed. Act fast.
Tiny production. Only 90 cases produced.
2019 Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills
In 2019, we crafted the appellation blend, Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay from wines of three terrific vineyards, all of which are farmed organically. Thus, this wine is a blend of 33.3% each from Rita’s Crown (Clone 76), Donnachadh (Clone 4), and Spear (Wente). The cool 2019 vintage saw extended hang time for Chardonnay as well as the other grapes, with pick dates in mid to late September. The wine was fermented and aged on its lees in French oak barriques (20% new), with partial malolactic fermentation occurring spontaneously in barrel. The resulting wine is aged for 16 months on its lees without stirring, before selection, blending and bottling. This is a decidedly cooler climate Chardonnay, with terrific acids and minerality which lifts the ripe tropical fruit flavors, giving a very long finish.
We love the complexity and energy of this wine, which represents a fascinating cross section of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. Extremely limited. Only 225 cases produced.
This wine is not yet rated, but the prior vintage was rated 93 points by Jeb Dunnuck who stated, “Readers looking to learn what topflight Chardonnay from this region tastes like should latch onto bottles.”
Visitation Update
Over the last several months we have seen a noticeable number of visitors from around the country, and of course, from our California back yard. It has been lovely seeing so many happy, eager travelers, both in the Tasting Room and at the Winery. We have enjoyed meeting so many new faces as well as longtime customers, with whom we share our stories while pouring them some of Santa Barbara’s finest. We really do believe that the craziness of the last year and a half has caused us to realize how much we truly missed the enjoyment of great food and wine, shared with others, as well as travel to beautiful places and just pure joy. We are hopeful that these themes will continue into the future.
We look forward to seeing you soon at either the Tasting Room or the Study in Los Olivos, or at the Winery in Buellton. The summer season is well under way, with sunshine and lots and lots of smiles. Tables are filling up, so book your tasting ahead of time!
Cheers
John, Steve, Brandon and the entire Dragonette Cellars team
2021 Late Spring Release
| Greetings from Dragonette Cellars |
| New 2019 Pinot Noir Releases – Radian Vineyard and Sta. Rita Hills Blend We are excited to announce the release of two fantastic 2019 Pinot Noirs: the multi-vineyard Sta. Rita Hills blend, and the always anticipated, single vineyard wine from the steep, dramatic, Radian Vineyard. These wines are always made in small quantities, but with 2019 being a shorter year, the volumes are even less than normal, and we suspect that they will both sell out even quicker than usual. Wine Club members are guaranteed their base allocation, but we cannot guarantee any more than that will be available in October at shipment time. We suggest planning purchases accordingly. The 2019 Vintage 2019 was a classic cool-climate year in the Sta. Rita Hills. The winter was cold and wet, with the largest rainfall we had seen in many years, as much as 20 inches in some places. The rain helped cleanse vineyard soils and provided a good profile of soil moisture for the early season. Spring was cool, with budbreak delayed until late March, and this helped reduce vigor. Cool weather and windy conditions around bloom resulted in an extended flowering, which resulted in an uneven crop set in Pinot Noir. June was warm, but July and early August were generally cooler allowing maturity without excess heat. Late August introduced significant heat, quickening the ripening of the Pinot Noir. We performed a significant green drop (removing underripe clusters) about a month before harvest, but the remaining crop was perfectly ripe with great acidity from the cool year. We picked at daybreak during the cold mornings throughout September and were extremely pleased with the resulting wines, which show terrific concentration from the long season, but also excellent lift from very present natural acidity. We think the 2019s are some of the most complete Pinot Noirs we have made, and we believe they will drink well young but also continue to age for 10-15 years. PURCHASE The Wines Reds Pinot Noir2019 Pinot Noir, Radian Vineyard Radian is always one of the most anticipated wines we make, and it is one of the quickest to sell out every year. Thus, we spend the Winter and Spring carefully tasting and counting the days until the wine is ready for release (meaning already delicious, though with many, many years still ahead of it). We are thrilled to announce that the time is now. As we have discussed before, Radian is one of the most magical places in which grapes are grown in all of Santa Barbara. The vineyard is otherworldly, at once steep and foreboding, but also wildly dramatic and beautiful, with forever views of the ocean in one direction, and the majority of the Santa Rosa Road corridor in the other. Soils include clay and sandy and loam, banded chert, with localized, sometimes very thick deposits of diatomaceous earth and are very poor, allowing only meager vegetative growth. Moreover, the fierce winds up in the upper blocks we farm (600-800+ feet above sea level) also reduce set and limit yields. Indeed, these vines in 2019 produced an average of around 2 tons per acre of tiny clusters with thick skins and little juice (see the pictures above). The grapes were mostly destemmed and then fermented on native yeasts, and the wine then aged on its lees for 18 months in French oak cooperage (35% new) before bottling without filtration. The 2019 Radian Pinot Noir is deep and complex as usual, with a dark red fruit profile (some black cherries and red plums, with raspberry liqueur, pomegranate) with leafy rhubarb and forest floor notes, a streak of granite and minerals, and a good solid backbone of herb-edged, but round tannins. The wine has the loveliest velvety texture, with no hard edges, and yet it finishes with great energy as citrus-laced acids refresh the palate and demand another sip. The 2019 is a little more brash and effusive than the billowy 2018, but fresher and juicier than the more muscular and reserved 2017. We think it might be one of the best ever from this remarkable site. Extremely Limited. This wine was made in tiny quantities (400 cases), most of which will go to the Wine Club in October. We will have a small portion available for sale now. We suggest you get yours very soon or risk missing out! 2019 Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills An appellation blend in name only, this wine is crafted from several of the finest vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills, including Bentrock (30%), Radian (15%), Sanford & Benedict (15%), Fiddlestix (10%), La Rinconada (10%), Spear (10%), John Sebastiano (5%), and Duvarita (5%). Each of the blocks we farm in these Pinot Noir vineyards is individually managed to ensure the highest quality fruit at harvest time, the dates for which are selected after multiple, often daily visits to the vineyards, meticulous sampling and extensive tasting. We ferment each block with native yeasts, and then separately barrel each lot into the finest French oak cooperage, 10 percent of which is new. The wines are aged on their lees for 15 months, and then blended and bottled without filtration. With this careful attention to detail throughout the season and in the cellar, the wines display great depth and concentration, with beautiful texture from lees aging and minimal handling. For the Sta. Rita Hills appellation blend, we select wines for their complexity, bright expression, cheery personality, and food friendliness. The 2019 has begun drinking very well, right out of the gate, with super complex red and blue fruits, a touch of minerals, baking spices, fresh herbs and forest floor, along with great natural acidity. The wine is perhaps a bit more dense than the fresh, inviting 2018, but it is also layered and juicy with fantastic fruit that echoes on the long finish. Although young, the wine’s great freshness and lift provides delicious drinking already, with 8-10 years of aging potential as well. Only 550 cases of this wine were produced in 2019, and we expect this wine to be snapped up much faster than in past years. PURCHASE Shipping Notes As we enter the warmer months, shipping becomes a little more difficult, particularly outside the West Coast, but we do have better and better options. Aside from finding careful weather windows (no one will protect your wine more carefully than Dragonette Cellars!) we also have the ability to arrange for Cold Chain Shipping to ensure your wine safely arrives to the rest of the country in the warmer months. Cold Chain shipping uses specifically timed shipments through refrigerated trucks to hubs across the country, and then next day AM delivery from those hubs. Pricing can be close to the pricing of straight ground shipping, depending upon your distance from a hub. For example, a case to wine to New York, which would be roughly $40 dollars ground, can be around $55. Dragonette Cellars probably has as much experience with cold chain shipping as anyone in Santa Barbara, so feel free to call and discuss shipping options for your wines. We will figure out a way to get your wines to you wherever you are. In Conclusion As always, we appreciate your support! It has been an honor to make wines for you, and we have enjoyed all the positive reactions, the great press and especially the smiles. We will continue to do everything we can to make the best wine possible from these amazing sites in magical Santa Barbara County. We look forward to seeing you in the Tasting Room, or at the Winery in Buellton, soon. We are taking reservations for limited spots, and Los Olivos has been bustling, so be sure to plan ahead. CheersJohn, Steve, Brandon and the entire Dragonette Cellars team |
2021 Spring Release
| Spring Release of New Wines It is Springtime again! Here in Wine Country that can mean only one thing – Spring New Releases! Well, of course, it means a lot more than that. First, it means that the hills of the Santa Ynez Valley are green after the winter rains. The plants are awakened by the refreshment and reaching towards the sunny skies as they begin their lives’ journey. We are hoping for a bit more rain, but we did have a couple of good storms. Californians are always looking for more rain, as we are sure you all know. Second, this Spring has meant the widespread availability of vaccines, and sharply lower infection rates from Covid-19. “Hooray!” In Santa Barbara we have the tasting room open outside, and it has been simply buzzing with visitors all safely distanced and thrilled to enjoy great wines in this beautiful place. The previous Rose release has drawn a tremendous response, and wines are flying out the door in case quantities as people prepare for warmer weather and better times ahead. Third, Spring means that we begin planning for the growing season with pruning and later, shoot thinning and canopy management. In the cellar we are bottling up the last of the 2019 wines (except for MJM) and looking forward to seeing the new babies take their proverbial first steps out into the world. And, yes, finally, it means the Spring Release, as we are excited to announce the availability of several new wines, all produced lovingly in tiny quantities and ready for the table or the cellar if you have the patience. New Release Wines Reds Pinot Noir 2019 Pinot Noir, Sanford & Benedict Vineyard 2019 Pinot Noir, Duvarita Vineyard 2019 Pinot Noir, “Collaboration”, Bentrock Vineyard (tasting room and wine club exclusive) Grenache 2018 Grenache, John Sebastiano Vineyard Whites Chardonnay 2018 Chardonnay Rita’s Crown Vineyard 2018 Chardonnay Duvarita Vineyard Details. Most of the wines in this offering are extremely limited, some less than 50 cases for the entire country. Additionally, the warmer weather means that shipping options will be limited. This offer will remain open until April 10, 2021. |
| The Wines |
Reds Pinot Noir 2019 Pinot Noir, Sanford & Benedict Vineyard (Sta. Rita Hills) We must admit a special excitement about the first Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir. The vineyard is legendary, planted in 1971 to a mixture of secret heritage clones, and it lies in the tenderloin of the Sta Rita Hills. It is one of the principal reasons that there is a Sta. Rita Hills. A few years ago, we began working with S&B fruit, employing organic farming in our blocks and evaluating the grapes for our various Pinot Noir programs. By 2018, S&B was responsible for 40% of the Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir. When we began tasting the 2019 Pinot Noirs it became clear the S&B wine deserved to be bottled on its own. The cool 2019 vintage was excellent, and the grapes enjoyed extended hangtime into mid-September. More importantly, the barrels of S&B were simply dripping with terroir, contrasting sharply in character (though of similarly excellent quality) from the wines that come from Fiddlestix, only a few hundred yards away. Was it the vine age? Soil differences? Row spacing? Row orientation? Slight elevation differences? Probably all the above, and we found the wine complete and fascinating, with deep, concentrated red fruits, earth and spices, fine tannins and great persistence. So here it is. We think you will love this wine. The wine was aged on its lees for 16 months in French oak barrels (40% new) and bottled without filtration. Extremely Limited. Only 120 cases produced. 2019 Pinot Noir, Duvarita Vineyard (Santa Barbara County) Duvarita Vineyard, just west of the Santa Rita Hills appellation lies on south-facing slopes of almost pure sand. The grapes here are farmed biodynamically by the friendly, dedicated, obsessive Brook Williams. The low vigor soils, very careful irrigation, small canopy, and a low fruit zone combine to make this one of the lowest yielding and earliest ripening vineyards we farm. The small clusters here give wines that are lean and elegant, with terrific intensity, minerality and a remarkable depth of flavor even at lower alcohol levels. 2019 was a difficult vintage at Duvarita, but the small amount of wine made was of very high quality. Yields were very small, as cool weather at bloom meant uneven set. The cool year was terrific though as the grapes retained great acidity as they slowly ripened. As August heated up the grapes obtained full maturity, though we did have to drop uneven and imperfect clusters, further lowering yields. That said, the grapes that were picked made a delightful wine, one of concentration, but also elegance, with plenty of material and structure for aging. The wine was aged on its lees for 16 months in French oak barrels (15% new) and bottled without filtration. Extremely Limited. Only 180 cases produced. 2019 Pinot Noir, “Collaboration”, Bentrock Vineyard (Sta. Rita Hills) Bentrock vineyard is located at the far western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills on steep slopes of sandy and shaly clay loam soils and diatomaceous earth. The vineyard generally faces north, limiting sun exposure. This site is regularly buffeted by ocean winds and cooled by daily fog creeping up and down the Santa Ynez River, allowing for a long, slow growing season. The resulting wines are intense and deeply concentrated, with cool red fruits (cherries and raspberries), spice, minerals, and a cool hint of fresh herbs wrapped in a finely textured, medium bodied frame. This single vineyard wine was produced in “Collaboration” with our entire staff, with whom we painstakingly selected three distinct barrels from Bentrock for this wine. We evaluated wines from three separate blocks with varying amounts of whole cluster, new oak, and other attributes. The final blend is all destemmed fruit from 100% neutral barrels. Great job, team! We think the wine shows complexity, balance, and harmony, while respecting this great site. Extremely Limited, only 75 cases produced. Tasting room and wine club exclusive. |
| Grenache 2018 Grenache, John Sebastiano Vineyard (Sta. Rita Hills) This dramatic hillside site on the border of the Sta. Rita Hills is one of the coolest sites planted to Rhône varietals in all of California. Grenache grows on a steep, south-east facing hillside of almost pure sand on the eastern edge of the block and slightly heavier sandy clay loam toward the west and at the bottom of the block. The block is typically picked very late but at relatively low sugar levels for Grenache. These grapes produce a cool, energetic, mineral-laden wine with juicy, high toned, aromatic red fruits, fresh herbs, and good structure for aging. We pay extra to have our blocks organically farmed here. The very cool 2018 Vintage required us to wait a long time to pick these stubborn grapes (Grenache can handle a good deal of heat). Ultimately, we waited until early November for the grapes to be ripe enough to be picked. The stems were less ripe than in some other years, and so we decided to destem all of the fruit for this wine. After a long cool fermentation, the wine was aged in large barrels (1200L Muid and 600L Demi-Muid) to preserve fruit character and allow slow evolution. The resulting wine is harmonious, with a great sensation of plush fruit on the pallet and great length and lift from energetic acidity and polished tannins. Extremely Limited. Only 140 cases produced. |
| Whites Chardonnay We believe that Santa Barbara is one of very best places to grow Chardonnay in the new world. The cool ocean influence, with daily fog and wind allows the development of beautiful ripe flavors, while the relatively cool climate permits retention of critical acidity and marine soils provide a sense of minerality. Thus, we were inspired to include a small amount of very particular Chardonnay into our portfolio. They have all been very well received by critics and customers alike. The wines are balanced, with beautiful fruit components lifted by driving, energetic acidity and structure from careful use of new and used oak barrels. The wines have the ability to age for a good long time. 2018 Chardonnay, Rita’s Crown Vineyard. (Sta. Rita Hills) – 94 Points Jeb Dunnuck & Antonio Galloni Rita’s Crown is a spectacular vineyard at some of the highest elevations in the Santa Rita Hills. Located right above the historic Mount Carmel monastery, our south west facing blocks are steep and cobbled with large amounts of diatomaceous earth. The winds are constant and strong, with a feeling of saltiness from the nearby ocean and a decided marine chill. The Chardonnay in this block typically sets 2-2.5 tons per acre from a relatively small canopy (In 2018 it was closer to 1.5 TPA). These low yields and long cool season result in ripeness at incredibly strong acid levels. We think this is a hallmark of great sites. The wines are dramatic and expressive, with a tremendously long finish. The 2018 wine fermented in French oak barrels, 30% new. The resulting wine went through partial malolactic fermentation in barrel and was then aged for 18 months on its lees, without stirring, before selection, blending and bottling. Extremely Limited: Only 220 Cases Produced, most of which will go to the Wine Club. Jeb Dunnuck gushed over this wine, giving it 94 points and stating: “From a great vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills, the 2018 Chardonnay Rita’s Crown Vineyard just jumps from the glass with exotic notes of spiced citrus, nectarines, flowers, and honeysuckle-like aromas and flavors. It’s a rich, beautifully textured, elegant yet concentrated Chardonnay with loads to love. It shows more salinity and minerality with time in the glass and I suspect will evolve for a solid 7-8 years.” 2018 Chardonnay, Duvarita Vineyard (Santa Barbara County) – 94 Points Jeb Dunnuck In addition to fantastic Pinot Noir, the biodynamic Duvarita Vineyard grows intense yet balanced Chardonnay from its gentle slopes of sandy soils further down the hill. Wines here are medium bodied and elegant, with a stony minerality and a remarkable depth of flavor. These wines evolve slowly and will absolutely repay bottle aging (under appropriate storage conditions). Jeb Dunnuck gave this wine 94 points, stating: “The 2018 Chardonnay Duvarita Vineyard comes from a cooler site located outside the boundary of the Sta. Rita Hills. It was brought up in one-third new French oak and saw plenty of lees contact. This medium gold effort offers a complex bouquet of ripe stone fruits, sappy herbs, salty minerality, and ample spice. With beautifully integrated oak, medium to full body, outstanding balance, and a great finish, it’s going to evolve for a solid 7-8 years, if not longer.” Extremely Limited: Only 145 Cases Produced. |
| We are grateful for the support all these years, and especially during the last 12 months, which were trying for everyone. We know there will be many changes in the way Americans do things going forward, but we hope that very soon we can all return to the joy of sharing a bottle of great wine with loved ones over a fantastic meal, whether made at home, or by any of America’s fantastic chefs. We also hope to see you here in Santa Barbara wine country and enjoying our region and its incredible bounty. |
| Cheers, John, Steve, Brandon and the entire Dragonette Cellars team |
Special Release – 2020 Rosé
| Special Release: 2020 Rosé, Save the Date for Spring Release |
| We are pleased to announce the release of the new 2020 Rosé! An earlier harvest in 2020 meant we could bottle this wine a few weeks earlier than last year. Interest in the Rosé is always high, but with our sunny (but cool) winter and the promise of reopening, the excitement is at an all time high. Luckily, we think the wine justifies it. Get some soon. Details below. Special Release: 2020 Rosé, Santa Ynez Valley 91% Grenache, 9% Graciano 56% Two Wolves Vineyard, 44% Vogelzang Vineyard 13.0% ABV The Vintage It goes without saying that 2020 was a challenge on almost all levels. From the winemaking standpoint, 2020 was shaping up to be an exceptional year for wine grapes, very cool and consistent, except for some shatter due to cool weather and wind during set. Nonetheless, until late July, we were highly optimistic. Then in mid-August, came the first in a series of massive heat waves. Fortunately, our careful farming and ability to act quickly on a moment’s notice allowed us to harvest in between heat waves and to avoid the negative effects of the heat. We carefully picked our five separate lots for Rosé under good conditions while fruit integrity was fully intact. In addition, Santa Barbara was largely spared the fires and smoke taint suffered almost everywhere else in the West. We could almost call 2020 the miracle vintage in Santa Barbara. Seemingly it was for us, even though it took a lot more work than in past years. We are just pleased to have been able to make terrific wines despite the challenges. The Wine As you will note, the 2020 version of this long-time favorite sports the Santa Ynez Valley appellation. This is because the Two Wolves vineyard, which is located right on the border of Happy Canyon, decided not to join in the newer appellation. So it goes with political boundaries. But no matter, the wine is just as good as last year when it was a Happy Canyon Rosé. Perhaps even better. Time will tell. One new thing in 2020 was the addition of Graciano (9%) from the Two Wolves Vineyard. Graciano, which is typically blended into the wines of Rioja (Spain) is well known for its bright fruit and terrific acidity, which we thought would be perfect for an energetic, driving style of dry Rosé. We were right! The rest of the Rosé (91%) is Grenache, roughly half from Vogelzang and half from Two Wolves. The wine was fermented in a combination of roughly one third each stainless steel, neutral barrels of various sizes (228L, 400L, 500L) and concrete. After complete dryness the wine was transferred to neutral oak barrels and aged for 5 months on the lees, before bottling. The wine shows expressive bright red fruits, (strawberries & raspberries) along with watermelon and green apple jolly rancher, with citrus peel and super bright acidity. We think it is a perfect combination of ripeness and volume balanced by energy and acidity, making for a most harmonious experience. The wine will pair beautifully with the warm spring and summer months, in the open air, with food, and without. As the country (and world) begin opening up post vaccination, we think this Rosé is the perfect celebratory wine, as it just screams freshness, happiness and optimism. Get some soon. Supplies are limited. Wines are available for pick up at the Los Olivos Tasting Room and can be shipped across the US. PURCHASE SAVE THE DATE – March 25, 2021 Spring Release & Wine Club Customization Period begins While we have your eyeballs (corporate speak that is probably already outdated), we wanted to give everyone a heads up that the Spring Release and Wine Club customization period begins March 25, 2021. Keep and eye on your inboxes, as there will be some very cool, incredibly small production wines released in addition to the wine club wines. Supplies of everything are very limited, so you will want to be ready to act fast. JOIN US FOR OUR UPCOMING VIRTUAL TASTINGS March 19 – Cheese Store Beverly Hills March 25 – Golden Gate Wine Cellars Cheers John, Steve, Brandon and the entire Dragonette Cellars team |