Fort Ross Vineyard is a necklace of 28 small mountain vineyard blocks that cling to a sunny coastal mountain ridge overlooking the ocean. Less than a mile from the Pacific Ocean, Fort Ross Vineyard is one of the closest, if not the closest vineyard to the ocean in all of

California. The vineyard rises in elevation from 1200 to 1700 feet above sea level. Ranging in size from one-half to two acres, each small vineyard block has its own particular terroir and is planted with rootstocks, varietals, and clones or field selections best suited to reveal the terroir, varietal typicity and clonal attributes.

There are some areas of the vineyard where the soils were better suited to Chardonnay than Pinot Noir. The vintners at Fort Ross were lucky to be given two special field selections of Old Wente and Hyde chosen for their small berries and loose clusters. The first selection is graceful and fruity while the second is more structured and sleek. The overall crop in our Chardonnay blocks is small and the flavors intense. Picked in the cool morning hours, the grapes are hand sorted and then whole cluster pressed. Pressing is carefully monitored to limit pressed juice to only the first and finest juice and to avoid at all costs any of the undesirable flavors that often accompany harder pressed wine. After pressing, the wine from each field selection is separately barreled in selected combinations of new and used 100% French oak barrels to undergo barrel fermentation, including malolactic fermentation. Typically their Chardonnays are barreled for at least a year and often as long as sixteen months. Blending trials are done as the wines evolve. When the final blending relationships are decided, the wine is racked and bottled, without fining or filtration so that the wine maintains flavor and youthfulness over time.

This 2006 Chardonnay reflects a more Burgundian sensibility with generous aromas of crisp kaffir lime leaves, sun ripened apricots and fragrant honeysuckle blossoms framed by hints of citrus. The complex palate of full and succulent fruit, including melon and lemon curd, is buttressed by a savory acidity and the cool coastal vineyard’s signature minerality. The focused finish expresses fine symmetry with a nuanced echo of oak and a dash of hazelnut that carries through the elegantly smooth finale.

Brochelle Vineyards is a tiny winery creating rich, voluptuous wines. They take great pride in the fact that their wines are truly hand made by them personally with excessive emphasis on quality of the finished product.

They have a simple philosophy; great wines are created in the vineyard. To this end, they have spent countless hours in their estate zinfandel vineyard priming it to bear only the lowest yields of highly concentrated fruit. The same approach is made in the amazing vineyards they painstakingly select to craft their Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah with.

With the focus on the vines, there is little else for the wine to do except take a blissful sleep in French oak. This simple formula has allowed them to encapsulate the pure essence of the vineyard and bring forth wines that leave an unforgettable impression. Their passion and obsessive attention to detail can be discovered in every bottle created.

This vintage is yet another richly layered wine with an intensely aromatic nose, round and lush in the mouth. The wine displays an array of complex berry fruits and an abundance of strawberry jam. This deeply hued vintage is another in the long line of their signature Zins that are velvety, voluptuous and densely textured. Very low yields in the vineyard again in 2008 imparted all of the best attributes necessary for a true classic: balance, elegance, intensity, and complexity. Long hang times and textbook acidities ensured this vintage graceful aging for years to come. Drink now and until 2020 - 1050 Cases produced.

Winemaker Brian Loring’s philosophy on making wine is that the quality of the fruit is everything. What happens in the vineyard determines the quality of the wine, the wine can’t be any better than the fruit one starts with. Brian’s extremely picky when choosing vineyards to buy grapes from. Not only does he look for the right soil, micro-climate, and clones, he also looking for a grower with the same passion and dedication to producing great wine that he has. In other words, he’s a total Pinot Freak! His part in the vineyard equation is to throw heaping piles of money at the vineyard

owners (so that they can limit yields and still make a profit) and then stay out of the way! Since most, if not all of the growers keep some fruit to make their own wine, he tells them to farm his acre(s) the same way they do theirs - since they'll obviously be doing whatever is necessary to get the best possible fruit.

The 2008 Central Coast Pinot Noir is medium deep ruby color; subtle earthy red cherry aromas;big, rich, deep, red cherry flavors with subtle earthy notes, well-integrated tannin and oak; good structure and balance with a long finish; big and earthy style that has a great sense of balance. Extremely good "bang for your buck" from Mr. Pinot!