Jetsam’s on the loose this autumn morning!
In the last month, the Vineyard’s colors have definitely made a turn for fall. In the last week, the wind and rain has left many blocks almost entirely leafless. Winter dormancy is nearing and Jetsam is excited about it!
The first scores on our 2010 reds are in and they’re great! Take a look at Josh Raynolds’ notes:
2010 Gsm Paso Robles
(45% grenache, 30% mourvedre and 25% syrah)
Opaque ruby. Smoky cherry, raspberry and mocha on the perfumed nose. Sweet, fresh and juicy, offering creamy cherry and red berry flavors and a hint of cracked pepper. Finishes smooth, ripe and long, with lingering spiciness and very good energy. 90
2010 Old 900 Paso Robles
(95% syrah, 4% mourvedre and 1% viognier)
Inky purple. Heady, exotic bouquet combines dark berry, incense and floral qualities. Sweet black raspberry and cherry-vanilla flavors show impressive depth and energy, with a sexy violet pastille nuance emerging with air. Smoky Indian spices build on the long, juicy finish, which is nicely framed by gentle, fully absorbed tannins. 91
2010 Syrah Toasted Slope Paso Robles
Bright violet. Smoky cherry and dark berries on the nose, with hints of herbs, olive and dried flowers adding complexity. Lush and creamy in texture, offering bitter cherry and blackberry flavors and an exotic note of spicecake. Closes with serious power and breadth, leaving a smoky note behind. This rich, potent wine will work well with strongly seasoned foods. 90
2010 Petite Sirah Ann’s Block Paso Robles
Inky purple. Blueberry, cassis, oak spices and a touch of cola on the highly perfumed nose. Nicely concentrated, fine-grained and supple, with a smoky quality to its dark berry compote, vanilla and bitter chocolate flavors. Finishes with substantial but harmonious tannins and very good persistence. 90
The time lapse project continues!
Each morning, I (Maggie) take a photo from the same spot and tweet the #DailyPhoto. I started in August and it’s taken a few months for things to really start changing!
Stay tuned for the Daily Photos and, eventually, there will be a time lapse video…
The work of bore beetles!
Barrels are among the most expensive (other than bottling, barrels are our largest expense) and the most quickly depreciating items in the winery. Using oak chips is a much more cost effective way to impart oak flavors in wine but, call us purists, barrels just can’t be beat when it comes to well integrated wood!
Barrels only impart oak flavors and aromas for two years before becoming a neutral storage vessel and they’re susceptible to all sorts of things that make them useless even more quickly! The barrel in this photo fell victim to a very common bug that literally bores holes through the wood. The “bore beetle” is the name we give it though surely there’s an official name out there!
We’ve come to terms the check we write each year for barrels. We feel that using the best barrels help us deliver an expression of Alta Colina Vineyard with integrity and quality. Cutting corners just isn’t our thing!
We are very proud to be a finalist in snooth.com’s People’s Voice Awards!
Our friends and customers both nominated Alta Colina and have been voting so keep it up and bring it home!
Thanks for the votes. Cheers!
Just another Monday Funday!
Big thanks to our friends and cohorts of the Garagiste Festival (californiagaragistes.com) for sharing this great and cheeky profile on Bob!
Jetsam and Lady B, two of our resident Vineyard animals, keep a close watch on this vineyard of ours!
This morning’s 5am pick marked the last pi k of the season for Alta Colina. A few tons if fruit still hang for our grape customers but the season came early and fast for us this year.
As always, it was a stunning morning and the whole team worked incredibly hard to get everything in. We’re looking forward to everything moving through fermentations now!
Soren rocking a sweet harvest look!
He says it’s to avoid getting soaked while cleaning the inside of the press but we’re pretty sure he just likes the overalls.
