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Don't miss our older newsletters which contain tasting tips and other valuable information! Winter 2003 Newsletter 'Tis the Season! Happy holidays from the Dooley family. After a very successful 2003 harvest and many hours out in the vineyards and getting the new wine through fermentation and tucked away in barrels, I am truly looking forward to the holidays and spending time with friends and family sharing good food and wine. We are now offering some of the best wines ever produced at Stephen Ross, and with the first harvest from our new vineyard, “Stone Corral”, I have every reason to believe that our wines will continue to get even better. 2001 Vintage Review
For the most part, we are
currently offering wines from the 2001 vintage. That year, there were two
significant changes at Stephen Ross that contributed to making better wines.
First, fermentation for all red wines took place in temperature controlled
stainless steel cylindrical tanks six feet tall by six feet in diameter,
instead of smaller plastic lined wooden boxes The majority of the grapes for the wines produced at Stephen Ross in 2001 were grown in the Edna Valley and Santa Maria Valley. Other important vineyards from which Stephen Ross sourced grapes are located in Paso Robles, Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley. The Edna Valley and the Santa Maria Valley are located in the South Central Coast of California, about 30 miles apart, and are similar in many ways. Both valleys span in an East-West orientation, are 200 - 300 feet above sea level, and are open to the Pacific Ocean to the West. The climates are strongly influenced by regular summer-time afternoon cool breezes from the ocean. Also of significance, these valleys lie in Southern California at 34 degrees latitude and therefore receive intense sunlight from a directly overhead sun. 2001 could be described as a “slightly warmer than normal growing season.” Although when reviewing “heat summation units” over the growing season, at 2400 degree-days, both valleys are still considered a Region 1 or cool region. Edna Valley crop yields were 3.5 tons per acre for Pinot Noir and 3.8 tons per acre for Chardonnay. In the Santa Maria Valley, the crop yields were 2 tons per acre for Pinot Noir and 3 tons per acre for Chardonnay. Paso Robles, on the other hand, is about 1,200 feet above sea level and lies just to the East of the Los Padres range in the Northern part of San Luis Obispo County. Although Paso Robles is only 30 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, the climate is quite warm, as the cool breezes from the ocean do not reach most areas of Paso Robles. When comparing heat summation units, 2001 was considered a warm year at 3300 degree-days in Templeton. At Monte Rosso Vineyard in Sonoma Valley the growing season was moderate and warm compared to the last four years. May was the warmest ever, and June nearly so, causing concerns about a too-early harvest. But during July temperatures barely broke the 70s all month, in what the National Weather Service called “unusually cool” conditions. But the weather was a blessing, because it slowed down ripening. August saw the return of normal conditions, allowing for even ripening. In the Napa Valley the growing season was similar to Sonoma. The hottest May on record and the third hottest June (in total degree-days) led growers to predict a harvest around two to three weeks ahead of normal. Ultimately, this is exactly what happened. Temperatures in July burst into the 100s for several days with temperatures hitting 114° in Calistoga and 105° in the usually cool Carneros. Fortunately, August cooled down to perfect, average high temperatures of 85° and almost chilly nights to put the vines back on track. This allowed the grapes to settle, extending the all-important hang time and balancing the flavor profiles with the rising sugar levels. Chardonnay Edna Valley
This wine was grown on a sunny, hillside vineyard at the southern end of the Edna Valley. The soil at this site has a significant amount of small white calcareous stones mixed with clay loam. The wine was fermented and aged in French oak barrels and rested sur lies for 11 months. The barrel cellar where the wine matures is maintained at 55°, and 80% humidity, which preserves the flavors from the grape and the flavors developed during fermentation and aging. Through minimal handling and skilled hands during the wine’s development this is a well-crafted wine exhibiting forward aromas reminiscent of peaches, apple, custard, brioche, with a faint roasted hazelnut note from the barrels. The texture of the wine is silky and balanced with refreshing acidity on the finish. Bottled non-filtered. 663 cases produced.
Chardonnay Santa Maria
Valley
This wine demonstrates why the Santa Maria Valley is such a great place to grow Chardonnay. The crop size was moderate at three tons per acre and the grapes had sufficient hang-time to develop pronounced varietal flavors. In the cellar the wine matured sur lies for 12 months in barrels, and then was racked to a small stainless steel tank to commingle and settle clear. The wine, it is brilliant in appearance and pale straw in color. It's aroma is much like pineapple, honey-butter, wet stones, nutmeg and baked pastries. It has textures more similar to a European/Burgundian wine in that it has refreshing acidity and moderate levels of French oak; while leaning more toward Californian in its ripeness with moderate alcohol. This is a great food wine, making a good match for risotto and spring vegetables or cassoulet with duck. 292 cases produced.
Pinot Noir, Central Coast The wine is a blend of Edna Ranch and Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir. The wines from the 2001 vintage are stellar and this is a good example, if perhaps being in a lighter, more elegant style. Aromatically, it has fresh forward fruit, raspberry, cherry, cola, rose petal, coriander, and white pepper. To the eye it has a clear dark ruby hue. On the palate the wine is light with smooth silky tannins, and a lingering fruity finish. 195 cases produced. Pinot Noir, Edna Valley The 2001 Edna Valley Pinot Noir is a blend of three blocks at Edna Ranch and a small portion from Bien Nacido Vineyard. Stylistically, the wine is very extracted. The color is dark ruby and purple, and the flavors are powerful, reminiscent of raspberries, cherries, sweet vanilla and black tea. It is full bodied, rich with supple textures and it finishes with lingering berry flavors. 827 cases produced.
Pinot Noir, Santa Maria
Valley
Production of this wine quadrupled at Stephen Ross this vintage as the contracted area grew from two rows to 14 rows in block G. This was the first year for vineyard manager Chris Hammel at Bien Nacido, and to his credit he did a great job. Mother Nature gave us a slightly higher than average crop size, however by shoot positioning and cluster thinning to one cluster per shoot we ended up with a slightly lower than average crop size, around 2.3 tons per acre. The wine is very aromatic with aromas of cherries, raspberries, and the vineyard trademark white pepper spiciness. This is a rich Bien Nacido Pinot Noir with plenty of flavor and elegant tannins. 596 cases produced.
Zinfandel, Paso Robles
The winemaking style focuses on balance, fruit flavors, moderate French oak, and a ripe but restrained alcohol level. This is a brilliant, dark ruby and garnet colored Zinfandel with forward red raspberry, cassis, cardamom, rose petal and sweet pea aromas. Not a bashful wine, it has plenty of tannins, yet is fairly low in acid giving the wine a richness and balance that supports the red fruit flavors. Full and lush, this is a fruit forward style of Zinfandel. 275 cases produced
Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley
The Monte Rosso Vineyard Zinfandel vines were planted in 1885. The parcel where the Stephen Ross Zinfandel was grown has grand old vines looking more like small fruit trees with massive trunks. The vineyard has been managed and owned by the Louis Martini family since 1936. Harvest took place early in the morning, and the grapes were transported to the winery in a refrigerated truck. This is the fifth year of producing a Monte Rosso Zinfandel at Stephen Ross and this one is perhaps the best in terms of overall quality. From the moment the wine is poured into a glass it is apparent that this wine is concentrated by its deep dark purplish black color. It is a classic example of ripe, elegant, stylish Zinfandel. The fruit characteristics are reminiscent of blueberries and blackberries with spicy cardamom and allspice notes. This is a seductive, lush wine on the palate. It has silky textures, ample soft tannins, low acidity and lingering blue fruit flavors. 325 cases produced
Petite Sirah, Napa Valley
Planted in 1997 from Hayne Vineyard budwood and located in Louis Martini Winery’s backyard, this wine demonstrates why in 1968 the most widely planted varietal in the Napa Valley was Petite Sirah. The grapes for Stephen Ross are shipped from the Napa Valley to the winery in San Luis Obispo in a refrigerated truck. Winemaking for this varietal is similar to Pinot Noir winemaking; fermentation in a small stainless steel tank, the cap is punched down by hand, pressing takes place in a small basket press and the wine is aged in Burgundian French oak barrels. The wine is most impressive for its dense, inky purple-black color, and mouth filling soft tannins. It has ripe blue-fruit aromas very much like blueberry and blackberry, with traces of violet flower and black pepper; and it is thick, rich and flavorful on the palate. It is such a showy wine that it may be most appreciated accompanied simply by cheese such as Manchego or Humboldt Fog blue and a baguette. 225 cases produced.
Taste Stephen Ross Wines at these 2004 Events March 5 - 6
World of Pinot Noir Friday’s events include Tasting Seminars at local wineries, a Pinot Noir and Cheese seminar, an afternoon Focus Tasting. The evening features an elegant Pinot Noir Dinner and Reception at the Cliffs Resort, created by guest chef Michel Richard and hosted by participating wineries and sommeliers. Saturday’s schedule will include morning seminars and lunch, followed by the popular Pinot Noir by the Sea Tasting in the afternoon. That evening, World of Pinot Noir 2004 will officially conclude with a newly added off-site dinner, a Santa Barbara-style Paulée at Au Bon Climat Winery in Santa Maria, and will include dinner and lively music. As in previous years, a Special Tasting of Domaine George Roumier with Christophe Roumier and lunch will be featured on Saturday morning. For more information contact World of Pinot Noir, P.O. Box 1346, Arroyo Grande, California 93421. Phone (805) 489-1758, FAX (805) 473-9337 April 29
May 2 featuring a Progressive Food & Wine Pairing at San Luis Obispo restaurants & Farmers Market Tour in downtown San Luis Obispo (Thursday night), a Winemakers’ Dinner featuring the San Luis Obispo area Winemakers and their wines (Friday night), and Passport Ticket Winery Tour at local wineries featuring barrel tasting, current and library wine tasting and food to accompany the wines (Saturday). Contact the San Luis Obispo Vintners and Growers Association at (805) 541-5868 or www.sanluisobispowines.com July 15 – 18
This is a week long wine
extravaganza featuring the wines and wineries of the Central Coast and
benefiting KCBX public radio. Contact KCBX at (805) 781-3026 or www.kcbx.org
for more information
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four
feet square by four feet tall. Our second big improvement in 2001 was utilizing
a movable stainless steel basket press. I really feel both of these techniques
made the wines more fruit forward in aroma and flavor and gave the mouth-feel
an added richness.
