Fiddlehead Cellars
Transcription
Fiddlehead Cellars
FIDDLEHEAD CELLARS THE VINEYARDS and THE VINTAGE Santa Ynez Valley 2010 H A P P Y C A N Y O N Sauvignon Blanc A blend of Vogelzang (46%), McGinley (29%) and Grassini (25%) Vineyards, all located in the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA. A prized location for this Bordeaux-based varietal. The warm daytime temperatures shift the awkward “green” character of this varietal into the succulent fruit-based aromatics. In the evenings, the cool oceangenerated fog preserves the crisp acidity that impresses the palate with its vibrancy. This vintage had a very cool Spring and Fall with a healthy 30 inches of rainfall (but wonderfully dry in August and September); normal phenology pursued, with bud break the 3rd week of March, bloom the 3rd week of May and verasion the beginning of August. Cool weather forced 3+ week delayed maturity in many red grapes, but our SB matured over a comfortable two week window. KATHY’S CORNER The HAPPY CANYON designation signifies both a place and a style. The place, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA (designated November 2009), is home to six vineyards planted 1996-2001, and is located on the eastern edge of the Santa Ynez AVA. Soils are low in nutrients and are a mixture of loam and clay loam with red and yellow chert and serpentine cobbles. Morning fog lifts to plentiful sunshine, and it is the ideal home to Bordeaux (including Sauvignon blanc) and Rhone varietals. During Prohibition, a simple alcohol was produced in Happy Canyon and legend has it that folks would “take a trip up Happy Canyon” to purchase the beverage…and the name stuck. In the Fiddlehead Portfolio, it is my Sauvignon blanc that marries the varietal essence of the grape with silky textures, much like a Pouilly fumé style of the Loire Valley. It is incredibly versatile; it complements a huge range of flavors and tends to be a crowd pleaser for many palates. It certainly lives up to its name! With cheers! KJ Harvested August 28 to September 13, 2010 THE WINE Our signature Loire-styled wine is crafted to highlight the predisposition of Happy Canyon fruit toward fuller, richer wines. This wine achieves delicious volume on the palate; it intentionally marries the benefits of varied fermentations:1/3 in stainless steel to capture the spice of the grape, 1/3 in tight-grain new French oak (Damy) to capture the weight of the grape and 1/3 in neutral French oak to ensure seamless harmony in the wine. The barrel component is aged sur lies for 8 months (much like Champagne), and the select tight grain oak adds to the graceful length of the finish. This wine is the epitome of seamless; it showcases the minerality from our soils, apricot and pineapple aromatics from our warmer climate with a kiss of vanilla from the traditional incorporation of French oak barrels. Upon release, this wine achieves the perfect balance between fragrance and richness, with neither prevailing in importance. Non-malolactic. 1522 cases produced. 1597 E. CHESTNUT AVE , LOMPOC, CA 93436 • 800.251.1225 • WWW .FIDDLEHEAD CELLARS. COM SPECIALIZING IN SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED SAUVIGNON BLANC AND PINOT N OIR • Appreciate the Difference FIDDLEHEAD CELLARS Santa Ynez Valley 2013 G O O S E B U R Y S auvignon Blanc The Harvest: August 23 & 28, 2013 The 2013 Vintage Notes: Fast, furious, bountiful and beautiful! A relatively warm and extremely dry growing season resulted in early (but even) ripening and good stem lignification (and no heat spikes to manage!). The Vineyard: 77% Vogelzang Vineyard & 23% McGinley Vineyard; 76% Musque clone and 24% Clone 1. The AVA: “Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara”. This bucolic canyon is nestled within the eastern boundary of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA, on the Los Padres side of Highway 154. Its cool, fog-laden evenings and warm daytime temperatures allow for the preservation of natural grape acidity and favorably tames varietal expression away from ”herbaceousness”, and enhances mineral, fruit-based qualities. KATHY’S CORNER Goosebury is one of those palatecatching beauties that struts out of our cellar with poise and flare. Lit by the gleam of the waning moon, not to mention light trailers and headlamps, each pick began at 4am with Kathy leading the charge in both Vogelzang and McGinley Vineyards. These two crown jewels of the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara A.V.A. highlight the selectivity of our Sauvignon blanc sources, and it is from these two vineyards that we targeted for our 2013 Goosebury. For this select bottling, we focus on the exquisite purity of the grape. We look for showy fruit, perfect acidity and stand-alone success. It delights the palate with a perfect package that requires no manipulation, zero additions and reflects harmony in the glass. No oak influence, no skin contact, no extended maceration and no malolactic fermentation. Our tasting quest through the cellar looks for the most admired wine of the vintage… wine that is expressive with luscious, exotic aromatics and is balanced by a crisp, salivating finish. This wine is a triumph of the vintage and a rare beauty; Goosebury always comes in small quantities, making it a special find and a limited bottling. WWW .FIDDLEHEAD CELLARS.COM In the Field: By hand-sorting through every cluster into halfton picking bins, we aim to retain only the finest, perfectly ripe clusters that are destined for whole cluster pressing at the winery. Our by-the-acre contracts allow us to micro-farm our Fiddlehead dedicated rows to our quality-driven specifications, and we pick in the wee hours of the morning to take advantage of the coolest temperatures so picking is less invasive to the grapes’ fragile skins. Smell, Taste and Texture: The majority of this blend is sourced from Block E of Vogelzang, where the loam soil of the vineyard gives the mineral backbone to this aromatically accessible wine. Floral notes of orange blossoms and hints of grapefruit glide into a lemon meringue creaminess that we seek to capture out of the field at ideal ripeness. The remainder of the wine is supported by Clone 1, both from Vogelzang and its neighbor, McGinley Vineyard, which contributes a vigorous sense of place, with the freshness of lemon and stone fruit. This wine pairs readily with spicy foods and fruit-based sauces. It screams youthful freshness upon release, but will surprise you with its superb ageability. The Winemaking: Picked early for a low alcohol finish; whole cluster pressed; cold fermented in 100% stainless steel; non-malolactic and selected for balance and purity as our premium Sauvignon blanc in the cellar. pH = 3.18, Acid =7.5g/L, Alcohol =12.9% Production: 303 cases bottled • 1597 E. CHESTNUT AVE , LOMPOC, CA 93436 • 800.251.1225 • INFO @FIDDLEHEADCELLARS. COM SPECIALIZING IN SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED SAUVIGNON BLANC AND PINOT N OIR • Appreciate the Difference FIDDLEHEAD CELLARS Santa Ynez Valley 2012 G O O S E B U R Y S auvignon Blanc The Harvest: August 29-30, 2012 The 2012 Vintage Notes: In spite of what many vintners described as a long, late vintage, we were ecstatic that our properties picked on a normal schedule with normal crop loads. The Vineyard: Vineyard mix is 65% Vogelzang Vineyard and 35% McGinley Vineyard. Clonal mix is 34% Musque clone and 66% Clone 1. The AVA: “Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara”. This bucolic canyon is nestled within the eastern boundary of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA, on the Los Padres side of Highway 154. Its cool, fog-laden evenings and warm daytime temperatures allow for the preservation of the natural grape acidity while unwanted “green” flavors give way to enticing fruit-based layers. KATHY’S CORNER Goosebury is one of those palate-catching beauties that struts out of our cellar with poise and flare. Each of our wines from every vintage is required to prove itself to earn its keep and its place. For Goosebury we want purity of the grape. We look for showy fruit, perfect acidity and standalone success. It delights us with a perfect package that requires no manipulation, zero additions and reflects harmony in the glass. Goosebury results from an unpredictable combination of “the right stuff”, with every vintage being different. The vineyard source may vary, but there is always no oak influence, no skin contact, no extended maceration and no malolactic fermentation. Our tasting quest through the cellar looks for the most admired wine of the vintage… wine that is expressive with luscious, exotic aromatics and is balanced by a crisp, salivating finish. It’s a triumph of the vintage and a rare beauty; Goosebury always comes in small quantities, making it a special find and a limited bottling enjoyed by only a select few. WWW.F IDDLEHEAD CELLARS .COM The Farming: Our per-acre contract allows for a wineryvineyard partnership that readily benefits the finished wine. We are proud of the meticulous, flavor-driven, sustainable farming that defines our Happy Canyon sources. The grapes are picked in the cool early morning hours, hand-sorted in the vineyard and whole-cluster pressed to preserve freshness and delicacy in the finished wine. Food Match: Pork loins with peach chutney, spicy grilled shrimp, fresh oysters, curry chicken, arugula and goat cheese salad with citrus dressing. Smell, Taste and Texture: A generous helping of jasmine aromatics infused with tropical based fruits…hints of tangerine, pineapple, ripe peaches …all married in a most elegant and refreshing liquid package. A very accessible, sophisticated wine. Winemaking: Whole cluster pressed, fermented exclusively in stainless steel and non-malolactic to ensure preservation of textural delicacy and transparency in the finished wine. pH = 3.27, Acid =7.5g/L, Alcohol =12.9% Production: 298 cases bottled • 1597 E. CHESTNUT A VE, LOMPOC, CA 93436 • 800.251.1225 • INFO@ FIDDLEHEADCELLARS.COM SPECIALIZING IN SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED SAUVIGNON B LANC AND PINOT N OIR • Appreciate the Difference FIDDLEHEAD CELLARS Santa Ynez Valley 2008 H U N N Y S U C K L E Sauvignon Blanc THE VINEYARDS & THE VINTAGE Harvest Dates: August 28, 2008 Weather report: After a winter frost in 2007, our vines were hit again by a spring frost in 2008, resulting in our lowest Happy Canyon AVA production in years. Significant winds during bloom additionally forced an irregular set and erratic ripening patterns. But once again, diligent vineyard management, careful pick decisions, and meticulous hand-sorting in the vineyard were rewarded. Vineyards: 100% Vogelzang Vineyard, located in the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA, at the most easterly boundary of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA. Cool evenings partner with warm days resulting in the retention of natural grape acid, which is so important to this wine’s longevity. Clonal Mix: 100% SB, 93% clone 1, 7% Musque clone. Farming: Clusters were night harvested and meticulously field-sorted for excellence, ensuring only the highest quality grapes were picked and delivered to the Winery. KATHY’S CORNER The Hunnysuckle name is intended to describe the feel and fragrance of this small, select bottling of Sauvignon blanc. It’s luscious, it’s velvety and it’s styled after the exquisite white wines of Bordeaux. This wine is barrel-fermented and aged ”sur lies”, however our version does not include Semillon. We intentionally bottle age it 3-4 years to ensure seamless textures upon release. Hunnysuckle is for those who crave sophisticated white wine, for those who appreciate and understand the European expression of elegance and for those who are foodies and expect more from their white wine selections. With Hunnysuckle we celebrate luxurious textures in wine and successfully tones the racy expression of Sauvignon blanc. It exhibits silky qualities and flaunts a certain “sweet” aromatic that comes only with patient bottle aging. I invite you to enjoy the charm of our graceful and sophisticated creation. With cheers! WWW.F IDDLEHEADCELLARS. COM THE WINE Our wine of “Sideways” fame…correctly and lovingly described for its layers of delicate spice, with little hints of clove, resulting from admired aging in French oak. Ten months in the barrel and then years of bottle aging prior to release. And not just any oak, but the most refined (and most expensive) kind: 3-year air-dried French oak, select tight grain staves, exclusively from the Damy cooperage. The wonderful bouquet of understated figs, mandarin, fennel and dried herbs begs a meal for companionship like seared scallops or salmon with peach salsa. Non-malolactic, offering creamy richness without being buttery in taste. Amazingly bright in acidity from its Happy Canyon AVA roots; its long, persistent finish is a treat to the palate. pH 3.39 / TA 5.8 / alc 14.2 Only 123 cases bottled June 2009. • 1597 E. CHESTNUT AVE , LOMPOC, CA 93436 • 800.251.1225 • INFO @FIDDLEHEADCELLARS .COM SPECIALIZING IN SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED SAUVIGNON B LANC AND PINOT NOIR • Appreciate the Difference FIDDLEHEAD CELLARS Sta. Rita Hills Rosé of Pinot Noir Is this a saignée (a n early juice “bleed” from a red wine fermentation with the intention of concentrating the red wine…where the pink is just an afterthought? Nope! That’s why it’s got so much character. The entire grape cluster is dedicated to this wine and we farm the grapevines exactly like our most expensive wines. How does this Rosé get that great salmon color? In most red grapes, the skins carry the anthocyanins that color the juice and wine. At Fiddlestix Vineyard, we pick when the grape skins are “flavor” and “color” ripe; then we remove the stems and allow 48 hours of juice contact with the skins and manually mix the vats 2x/day. The now colored juice (or free run) is transferred to tank and the skins (with trapped juice) are lightly pressed and combined in the tank. All the juice is then cold fermented to dryness. KATHY’S CORNER This flirty, dry Rosé of Pinot Noir delivers something for everybody, anytime. Incredibly versatile…it’s great for a sip, romantic toast or warm weather excursion. Its stunning pinkcoral hue, dry finish and round textures make it an easy pick. Unlike “ordinary” rosés, in Pink Fiddle the entire Pinot noir grape is dedicated to making this wine. Gentle pressing imparts that classic Fiddlestix Vineyard spice and pomegranate-cranberry freshness. It’s simply delicious; no wonder the French routinely incorporate “pink” into their food and wine agenda. And now we have, too! Vintage: 100% 2013 Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir AVA: 100% Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County, Pinot-central! Vineyard: 100% Fiddlestix, Estateowned, known for low yields, great color extraction, concentration and spice layers. Clones: Dijon 115, 113 & Pommard 5 Harvest Date: September 3, 2013 Night harvested, hand-picked, handsorted in the Vineyard. How do you describe this wine? Expressive aromatics on the nose and abundant flavors on the palate. Aromatically you detect hints of red fruits, from raspberry to strawberry to cherry, along with delicious rhubarb notes and lingering allspice throughout. Smooth, creaminess meets vibrant acidity and finishes with explosive minerality, all courtesy of our Vineyard located at mile marker 7.28. Think of this as another red wine for discriminating white drinkers! When should we drink this wine? Immediately and often! We release this wine just before Valentine’s Day, two months after bottling, in order to highlight its distinctive bouquet, which is best enjoyed when this wine is young and fresh. Any food pairing recommendations? Try it with fennel and rosemary rubbed pork loin, spicy arugula with cara cara oranges and 10 year aged balsamic vinaigrette or mussels and shrimp saffron paella. Best thing about this wine? Our annual release celebration, Pinkie’s Party, of course! Join us at the winery on the Saturday before Valentine’s Day when Pinkie makes her debut, with specially paired foods and an abundance of flowing Pink Fiddle. What better way is there to enjoy this wine? Alcohol: 12.6% Cases Produced: 344 WWW.F IDDLEHEAD CELLARS .COM • 1597 E. CHESTNUT A VE, LOMPOC, CA 93436 • 800.251.1225 • INFO@ FIDDLEHEADCELLARS.COM SPECIALIZING IN SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED SAUVIGNON B LANC AND PINOT N OIR • Appreciate the Difference FIDDLEHEAD CELLARS Sta. Rita Hills even Twenty Eight FIDDLESTIX Vineyard Pinot Noir THE ESTATE VINEYARD and THE VINTAGE Fiddlestix - located in the heart of the Sta. Rita Hills on Santa Rosa Road at mile marker 7.28. On the north side of a tight east-west running valley, fog hovers over our vines until mid-morning when afternoon breezes take over and hold temperatures below 75° F. The welldrained, clay loam soils are loaded with chirt and Monterey shale. 35 unique blocks of Pinot noir, across 100 acres first planted in 1998, are meticulously farmed with sustainability as the guiding force. 2010 possessed above average rainfall (28 inches) and cooler temperatures, prolonging the growing season well into September to achieve one of our later harvests at Fiddlestix. Beginning on September 25 th, after a wellneeded burst of heat a week before, each block was hand-harvested and hand-sorted in the cool early morning hours. This 2AM rendezvous under tractor light guarantees our extremely fragile fruit is picked during the coolest time of night. THE WINE KATHY’S CORNER The most admired wines reflect their sense of place, their place of distinction, the place that creates their unique and unquestionable personality. Our 2010 Seven Twenty Eight exemplifies what a pleasure it is to see an ever-evolving vineyard continue into its maturity. The classic hallmark of Fiddlestix Vineyard has always been the tangible interplay between the rich earth, that sensation of dust and wood coming together to form an intense sense of place, and the puncturing bursts of dark red fruit, yet with each successive year the vineyard continues to add alluring tasting aspects. This year was no exception. Through the maturation process of the vineyard, as the vines grow bolder in the clay that populates the soil, and with the continued refinement of the constant care and attention our vineyard management team gives to the land, we better understand what the potential for our 100 acres of Pinot noir truly is. Taste and you shall receive! WWW.F IDDLEHEAD CELLARS .COM A mixture of clones ensure diversity on the palate, including Pommard 4 (24%) and 5 (14%), and Dijon clones 667 (22%), 777 (21%), 113 (13%), and 115 (6%), each adding its own unique personality. Fermented in small, open-top vats, allowing 2 weeks of skin contact, and aged 16 months in our favorite selection of tight-grain French oak - 35% new (Rousseau, Bel Air, Cadus, Saury & Seguin Moreau). Held a minimum of an additional two years in bottle to allow the Pinot charm to shine in all its glory! 2010 represents perhaps our most spice-intensive ‘728’ yet. With a bouquet defined by the classic Fiddlestix notes of black cherry and cola, along with hints of clove, nutmeg, and anise peppering the nose throughout, this silky and seductive wine continues to evolve in your glass. Touches of raspberry and blackberry greet the taster, while notes of sassafras and vanilla finish the wine with a mouthwatering conclusion. It’s bright, vibrant and SEXY! 2673 cases bottled. pH-3.42, TA-6.36 g/100ml, alc-14.1% • 1597 E. CHESTNUT A VE, LOMPOC, CA 93436 • 800.251.1225 • INFO@ FIDDLEHEADCELLARS.COM SPECIALIZING IN SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED SAUVIGNON B LANC AND PINOT N OIR • Appreciate the Difference FIDDLEHEAD CELLARS Sta. Rita Hills even Twenty Eight FIDDLESTIX Vineyard Pinot Noir THE ESTATE VINEYARD and VINTAGE Located in the heart of the Sta. Rita Hills on Santa Rosa Road, Fiddlestix Vineyard is the confluence of an exceptional growing environment that meets the finicky demands of Pinot noir. On the north side of a tight east-west running valley, fog hovers over our vines until mid-morning. Coastal afternoon breezes then blow through the Santa Rita Hills, ensuring cool grapes over a lengthy day of sunshine. Temperatures infrequently rise above 75 °F. The soil is well-drained clay loam loaded with chirt and Monterey shale, specifically of the Gazos and Botella soil series. Truly a Pinot noir paradise! 35 unique blocks of Pinot noir, across 100 acres first planted in 1998, are meticulously farmed with sustainability as the guiding force. KATHY’S CORNER The most admired wines reflect their sense of place, their place of distinction, the place that creates their unique and unquestionable personality. At Fiddlehead, my objective was to find the place where Pinot noir was unmistakably Pinot noir. This release was made thirteen years after purchasing the ground that I believed was indeed a very special place, the place that now lies in the heart of what achieved the AVA Sta. Rita Hills (in 2001), on Santa Rosa Road, at mile marker 7.28. That place is Fiddlestix Vineyard. This wine purposefully bears its place name, Seven Twenty Eight, to recognize its “roots”, and to give reason to its personality. The winemaking respects this sense of place with traditional, non-invasive and nonmanipulative winemaking, and with a commitment to creating expressive wines that demand an extraordinary vineyard. Its richness and yet restrained expression remind us of those historically exceptional homes for Pinot noir. Enjoy with cheers! KJ WWW.F IDDLEHEAD CELLARS .COM 2009 enjoyed a relatively “normal” crop and frost-free year, with relatively low rainfall, averaging about 10.5 inches. Phenology: budbreak the 3 rd week of March; bloom the 3 rd – 4 th week of May; veraison the 2nd week of August. A nice little heat burst August 27September 3 prompted the start of harvest at Fiddlestix on September 5, with an even-paced month to empty the Vineyard. All fruit was harvested in the coolness of the night to protect our perfectly ripe and fragile fruit. THE WINE Fiddlestix Vineyard by Luis Ramirez A mixture of clones ensure diversity on the palate. Included is a selection of six clones: Pommard 4 and 5, and Dijon clones 667, 777, 113, and 115, each adding significant layers to the palate as a reminder of the intensity of place. Fermented in small open-top vats, allowing 2 weeks of skin contact, and aged 16 months in our favorite selection of tight-grain French oak - 35% new (Rousseau, Bel Air, Cadus, Saury & Seguin Moreau). Held a minimum of an additional two years in bottle to allow the Pinot charm to shine in all its glory! “728” signature spice of black cherry cola, star anise and black pepper, and dusty aromatics. Buttery mouthcoating tannins dance on the palate and linger with grace. Bright, vibrant and SEXY! 3050 cases bottled. pH-3.53, TA-0.59 g/100ml, alc-14.2% • 1597 E. CHESTNUT A VE, LOMPOC, CA 93436 • 800.251.1225 • INFO@ FIDDLEHEADCELLARS.COM SPECIALIZING IN SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED SAUVIGNON B LANC AND PINOT N OIR • Appreciate the Difference FIDDLEHEAD Sta. Rita Hills FIDDLESTIX Vineyard Pinot Noir CELLARS THE ESTATE VINEYARD and VINTAGE Fiddlestix Vineyard is located in the heart of the Sta. Rita Hills on Santa Rosa Road. In our unique east-west running valley, fog hovers over our vines until mid-morning and then coastal breezes take over the direct cooling influence. The soil is well-drained clay loam and imparts coveted spice, volume and concentration in Fiddlestix wines. We meticulously farm with sustainability as our guiding force. Vintage 2009 was a frost-free year with low rainfall, dropping about 10.5 inches at Fidddlestix. Budbreak occurred the 3rd week of March; bloom stretched into the 3rd and 4 th week of May; and veraison took hold the 2nd week of August. A nice little heat burst between August 27-September 3 prompted the start of harvest at Fiddlestix on September 5, with an even-paced month to empty the Vineyard. All our fruit is harvested in the coolness of the night to protect our perfectly ripe and fragile fruit. Night harvested September 5 – October 1, 2009 THE WINE KATHY’S CORNER Lollapalooza says it all! This English expression that implies “wow” is defined as “the best of its kind”. Perry Farrell used it for his rock concerts and I was lucky enough to obtain the trademark for wine. And it’s a good story. At Fiddlehead, I became an early believer in the cool climate segment of the Santa Ynez Valley now known as the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. I invested in land on Santa Rosa Rd, right in the heart of this awesome district. And now Fiddlestix Vineyard has grown up and supports incredible Pinot noir vines that produce wines with charm and finesse year after year. But as good as the place is, and as good as our farming is, and as good as our marriage of clones, wines and barrels is, we know that by virtue of the changing vintage, some barrels are destined to have that glow, that silkier texture, that cut above elegance that cannot be predicted. We taste every barrel over and over and find those few barrels that deliver more. The search is almost as good as the wine. That’s our Lollapalooza! Enjoy with Cheers! We love, love, love this wine. It’s loaded with boysenberries and white pepper and simply sings to your palate. Its restrained beauty is what every Pinot noir is meant to be. It exhibits dusty tannins, expansive flavors, hints of laurel and chicory and benefits from our 15th leaf of maturity in the Vineyard. This spectacular wine is expansive, mouth watering, and tremendously satisfying. It benefits from grapes that were field sorted, fermented in small batches in traditional opentop vats, with scrupulous attention given to each barrel as a personality of its own. Our discriminating selection process meticulously shrinks 100 acres of Fiddlestix Pinot Noir into just over 200 cases of the most delicious wine. About 35% new oak (specifically the more cherished tight-grain, 3-year air dried selections) weave into the wine slowly, imparting longevity and finesse. Favorite coopers include Rousseau, Cadus, Bel Air, and Seguin Moreau. Our commitment to15 months in the barrel and patience during several years of bottle age prior to release are always rewarded with every sip. Clonal composition and Chemistry for the nerds out there: 20 % - 113, 32% - Pommard, 26% - 667, 12% - 115, 10% 777; pH 3.53, 5.9 g/L Acid, 14.4% Alc. Only 11 barrels were selected (225 cases produced), isolating the elusive best of the cellar! 1597 E. CHESTNUT AVE , LOMPOC, CA 93436 • 800.251.1225 • WWW .FIDDLEHEAD CELLARS.COM SPECIALIZING IN SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED SAUVIGNON BLANC AND PINOT N OIR • Appreciate the Difference FIDDLEHEAD CELLARS Willamette Valley 2011 OLDSVILLE RESERVE Oregon Pinot Noir THE VINEYARD and THE VINTAGE Pick Date: October 27, 2011, just days before Halloween! AVA: 100% Alloro Vineyard, located in the North Willamette Valley Chehalem Mts. Vineyard Source: The 78-acre Alloro Vineyard, planted in 1999 is L.I.V.E. and I.O.B.C. Certified Sustainable. It is situated on a southwest facing slope on Laurel Ridge, perched at a 700-foot elevation. Its Laurelwood soil is comprised of decomposed volcanic material below a top layer of ancient sedimentary soil. Fiddlehead controls specific blocks that are meticulously farmed to our specifications. Vintage Notes: A bit of a nail-biter. Very cool (lowest heat accumulation in decades) and very long…one of the latest on record. Budbreak was delayed about 2 weeks, but the ideal weather at flowering set a relatively large crop. Overcast skies during late spring and early summer coupled with a few showers slowed ripening and forced significant thinning. Fortunately, our grapes were harvested under sunny skies and we liked the moderate alcohols. KATHY’S CORNER This favorite Oregon bottling called “OLDSVILLE RESERVE” is named after the winery address, Oldsville Road in McMinnville, where I made my first 15 vintages of Oregon Pinot noir. More recently, I am able to take even better care of the fruit by processing the grapes at my own facility in Lompoc, CA. After working diligently to farm for the vintage, maintain healthy soils, pull leaves and reduce crop as necessary, the decision of when to harvest is delicately determined around the vine and grape maturity, with consideration to the imminent weather conditions. I am always in the vineyard at harvest to field sort and to offer direction on picking strategy. The cool early morning fruit is gently layered into shallow grape bins and immediately loaded into a refrigerated truck for transportation to my Lompoc winery. The fruit arrives in superb condition and at ideal temperatures. From vine to bottle…enjoy with Cheers! Harvest Notes: Hand-harvested at “sun up”, picking a total of 6.2 tons, including the Pommard clone (24%) and Dijon clones 114 (24%), 777 (41%) and 115 (11%). Perfectly chilled in route to CA for processing. THE WINE Enticing aromas of baked cherry pie; hints of rose petal, cedar and nutmeg exude after the first pour. A smooth, creamy start gives way to concentrated flavors of cherry and cola, with touches of dried thyme and fresh sage, leading to what we affectionately refer to as the “forest floor”. Subtle hints of all-spice and freshly crushed black pepper round out the finish. In one word: elegant! 100% de-stemmed and fermented in small lots with significant whole berry contribution. Delicately punched down twice daily. Aged 11 months in tight-grain French oak, combining new, once and twice used barrels from 4 cooperages. Prior to release, additionally aged in the bottle for toned tannins and satisfying suppleness. 3.52 pH / 5.87 g / L Acid / 12.9% Alcohol 321 cases produced WWW .FIDDLEHEAD CELLARS.COM • 1597 E. CHESTNUT AVE , LOMPOC, CA 93436 • 800.251.1225 • INFO @FIDDLEHEADCELLARS. COM SPECIALIZING IN SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED SAUVIGNON BLANC AND PINOT N OIR • Appreciate the Difference FIDDLEHEAD CELLARS Willamette Valley 2010 OLDSVILLE RESERVE Oregon Pinot Noir KATHY’S CORNER This favorite Oregon bottling called “OLDSVILLE RESERVE” is named after the winery address, Oldsville Road in McMinnville, where I made my first 15 vintages of Oregon Pinot noir. More recently, I am able to take even better care of the fruit by processing the grapes at my own facility in Lompoc, CA. After working diligently to farm for the vintage, maintain healthy soils, pull leaves and reduce crop as necessary, the decision of when to harvest is delicately determined around the vine and grape maturity, with consideration to the imminent weather conditions. I am always in the vineyard at harvest to field sort and to offer direction on picking strategy. The cool early morning fruit is gently layered into shallow grape bins and immediately loaded into a refrigerated truck for transportation to my Lompoc winery. The fruit arrives in superb condition and at ideal temperatures. From vine to bottle…enjoy with Cheers! THE VINEYARDS and THE VINTAGE AVA: 100% Alloro Vineyard, located in the North Willamette Valley Chehalem Mts. Vineyard Source: The 70-acre, L.I.V.E. certified and sustainably farmed Alloro Vineyard was planted in 1999. It is situated on a southwest facing slope on Laurel Ridge, perched at a 700-foot elevation. Its Laurelwood soil is comprised of decomposed volcanic material below a top layer of ancient sedimentary soil. Fiddlehead controls specific blocks that are meticulously farmed to our specifications. Vintage Notes: A vintage to cherish, and perhaps the coolest vintage in 30 years. We harvested on October 20 th, 2010, a full 2 weeks later than the prior vintage, after 2 “delicious” sunny weeks. Bud break was fairly normal (2nd week of April) and veraison set in after the first week of September. Cooler than normal spring, summer and bloom temperatures slowed maturation and resulted in light cluster weights while additional late season thinning compounded the low yields. Overall, yields were down about 20%. Terroir expression is very precise this year with a wonderful balance of fruit and herbal spice box. Harvest Notes: Hand-harvested at “sun up”, picking a total of 6.5 tons, including the Pommard clone (22%) and Dijon clones 114 (47%) and 777 (31%). THE WINE A silky, gloriously pretty wine with layered flavors, concentration and depth. Brimming with delicate berry flavors and strong mineral components. Focused and fragrant and reminiscent of familiar Burgundian aromatics. Complex aromas suggest a sachet of delicate dried herbs, sweet pipe tobacco, red fruit and pumpkin pie spice. Immediately approachable with silky, smooth tannins. Fermented with significant whole berry contribution in small open-top vats.100% destemmed. Aged 11 months in tight-grain French oak, 35% new. Prior to release, additionally aged in the bottle for seamless textures and most satisfying expression of place. 3.60 pH / 6.75 g / L Acid / 14.1% Alcohol 321 cases produced WWW.F IDDLEHEAD CELLARS .COM • 1597 E. CHESTNUT A VE, LOMPOC, CA 93436 • 800.251.1225 • INFO@ FIDDLEHEADCELLARS.COM SPECIALIZING IN SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED SAUVIGNON B LANC AND PINOT N OIR • Appreciate the Difference FIDDLEHEAD CELLARS Santa Ynez Valley 2013 S w e e t i e Sauvignon Blanc THE VINEYARD and THE VINTAGE Harvest Date: September 17, 2013. 2013 Vintage Notes: With a significantly lower than average rainfall, our grapes benefitted by displaying exceptional fruit concentration, mouthwatering roundness and elevated varietal intensity. Vineyard: 100% Vogelzang Vineyard, Block “D”. Clone 1, The Farming: Our per-acre contract allows for a wineryvineyard partnership that readily benefits the finished wine. We are proud of the meticulous, flavor-driven, sustainable farming that defines our Happy Canyon sources. The grapes are picked in the cool, early morning hours, handsorted in the vineyard and whole-cluster pressed to preserve freshness and delicacy in the finished wine. The AVA: “Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara”. This bucolic canyon is nestled within the eastern boundary of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA, on the Los Padres side of Highway 154. Its cool, fog-laden evenings and warm daytime temperatures allow for the preservation of the natural grape acidity while unwanted “green” flavors give way to enticing fruit-based layers. KATHY’S CORNER Sweetie is just that : an irresistible little darling delight, fashioned as an easy-tolove, lighter-style dessert wine. This wine is all about balance and strives to tame the “excessive” in too many dessert wines. It is delightfully and subtly fragrant, surprisingly light on the palate and wonderfully concentrated without being heavy. If you crave a little something sweet at the end of a meal, then Sweetie is for you! Simply delicious on its own, but also a treat with salty blue cheese, fruit tarts or a silky crème brulée. With end-of-the-meal cheers! THE WINE Picked three weeks later than our dry-style Sauvignon blancs, the extended hang time translated into a more tropical expression without sacrificing the distinctive Happy Canyon minerality. Honey and marzipan highlight the primary aromatics, with orange blossoms and roasted Bartlett pears poking through as an afterthought. Grapefruit and apricot flavors lead on the palate, while a touch of lemon zest and lively acidity create this wonderful stand-alone dessert of “quiet intensity”… so delightfully lifted in its weight and perception! After the grapes are whole-cluster pressed, the juice is frozen, allowing us to maintain the sweetest fractions without forfeiting flavors and body. Cold fermented solely in stainless steel to preserve the natural fragrance and bright acidity of the grape. It’s our modified version of “ice wine”! 10.3% residual sugar, 12.9% alcohol, 3.23 H, 8.1 g/L TA Only 85 cases (375 ml) produced. Serve well-chilled. WWW.F IDDLEHEAD CELLARS .COM • 1597 E. CHESTNUT A VE, LOMPOC, CA 93436 • 800.251.1225 • INFO@ FIDDLEHEADCELLARS.COM SPECIALIZING IN SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED SAUVIGNON B LANC AND PINOT N OIR • Appreciate the Difference FIDDLEHEAD CELLARS THE VINEYARD and THE VINTAGE Santa Ynez Valley 2012 S w e e t i e Sauvignon Blanc Source: A Grassini Vineyard selection. Located in the picturesque Happy Canyon at the eastern boundary of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA. Harvest Date: September 1, 2012. 2012 Vintage Notes: In spite of what many vintners described as a long, late vintage, we were ecstatic that our properties picked on a normal schedule with normal crop loads. The Farming: Our per-acre contract allows for a wineryvineyard partnership that readily benefits the finished wine. We are proud of the meticulous, flavor-driven, sustainable farming that defines our Happy Canyon sources. The grapes are picked in the cool, early morning hours, handsorted in the vineyard and whole-cluster pressed to preserve freshness and delicacy in the finished wine. The AVA: “Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara”. This bucolic canyon is nestled within the eastern boundary of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA, on the Los Padres side of Highway 154. Its cool, fog-laden evenings and warm daytime temperatures allow for the preservation of the natural grape acidity while unwanted “green” flavors give way to enticing fruit-based layers. THE WINE KATHY’S CORNER Sweetie is just that: an irresistible little darling delight, fashioned as an easy-tolove, lighter-style dessert wine. This wine is all about balance and strives to tame the “excessive” in too many dessert wines. It is delightfully and subtly fragrant, surprisingly light on the palate and wonderfully concentrated without being heavy. If you crave a little something sweet at the end of a meal, then Sweetie is for you! Simply delicious with salty blue cheese, fresh ripe pears and some toasted nuts. Also a great match with a fruit tart or crème brulée. With end-of-the-meal cheers! WWW.F IDDLEHEAD CELLARS .COM Kathy Delightfully fragrant and reminiscent of a mixed bouquet of orange blossoms and white peaches. Grapes are allowed a little extra hang time, whole cluster pressed and then frozen rock hard. The sweetest fractions are retained for fermentation…it’s our modified version of “ice wine”! Cold fermented solely in stainless steel to preserve the natural fragrance and bright acidity of the grape. Nonmalolactic. 8.8% residual sugar, 10% alcohol, 3.09 pH, 8 g/L TA Only 57 cases (375 ml) produced. Serve well-chilled. • 1597 E. CHESTNUT A VE, LOMPOC, CA 93436 • 800.251.1225 • INFO@ FIDDLEHEADCELLARS.COM SPECIALIZING IN SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED SAUVIGNON B LANC AND PINOT N OIR • Appreciate the Difference