Explore the terroir of the Santa Cruz Mountains with three single-vineyard, single-varietal reds from Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard!
-
Last week, I had the pleasure of welcoming Jeff Emery, proprietor and winemaker of Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, into the shop. It was before the COVID era since we tasted through his remarkable lineup of single-vineyard wines, and reminded us that Jeff isn’t just making wine, he’s telling the epic story of the Santa Cruz Mountains. We were smitten with the wines back then, and somehow our state lost the rights to carry his wine... well, the great news is that, the label is back!
Jeff's deep-rooted passion and unwavering dedication to honest, site-driven winemaking is the focus this weekend. And I'm very enthusistic about the flight lineup - these are wines that deserve to be shared, not just for their quality, but for the integrity behind them.
For this week’s Tasting Flight, you’ll experience three single-vineyard, single-varietal reds that vividly showcase the microclimates and character of their origin. Each pour -- Pinot Noir, Grenache, and Cabernet Sauvignon -- offers a unique snapshot of place and time, crafted with precision and intention. These are wines that linger in memory as much as they do on the palate.
Cheers,
Mark & The Petit Philippe Team
|
5:00 - 9:00pm Thursday
5:00 - 9:00pm Friday
1:00 - 9:00pm Saturday
1:00 - 7:00pm Sunday
|
|
|
|
|
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard 'Las Nietas' Pinot Noir 2022
Santa Cruz Mountains, Central Coast, CA
|
|
A single vineyard planting of 828 Dijon Clone Pinot Noir, one of the most sought after French clones of this highly regarded grape. Las Nietas Vineyard -- which translates to "the granddaughters" -- is a high elevation site with a cool climate and direct sunlight during the day, making it the perfect location for Pinot Noir. This wine is meant to be "Burgundian" in style, with complexity and acidity that make it an excellent candidate for extended bottle aging.
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Entirely from the 828 Dijon Clone. Grapes are grown in the Las Nietas Vineyard, located in the Corralitos district of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Vines were planted in 2008 and range in elevation from around 800 to 950 feet and faces the Monterey Bay. Only 200 cases produced.
Tasting Notes: The winery describes this wine as very "Burgundian" in style. It is light and almost translucent in the glass, with surprising depth and complexity on the palate. Notes of purple berries, flowers, and savory nuances dominate the nose and palate, which is a little different that the typical Dijon clone sour cherry expression.
|
|
|
|
|
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard 'Hook Vineyard' Grenache 2019
Santa Lucia Highlands, Central Coast, CA
|
|
The winery's decision to source Grenache from this vineyard stems from it's growing popularity in California as a versatile wine for food pairing. They wanted an area with a cool enough climate to get away from the over-ripened styles of Grenache that California is known for -- which led them to Hook Vineyard. The bright acidity of red fruit and subtle spices on the finish make this wine complimentary for cuisines you may normally not drink wine with, such as Indian, Mexican or Asian food.
Varietal: 100% Grenache
From Hook Vineyard within the Santa Lucia Highlands. This cool climate growing site results in a bright and zippy style of Grenache more reminiscent of the Rhône Valley style compared to typical California. Aged in mostly inert barrels and unfined and unfiltered when bottled. Only 285 cases produced.
Tasting Notes: This is classic Old-World style Grenache, with raspberries and white pepper aromas. The balance of red fruit and spice is present on the palate and continues through the finish. It has a medium structure that will stand up to heartier foods, yet there is a brightness and tartness that allows it to fit with less hearty fare as well.
|
|
|
|
|
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard 'Luchessi Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Santa Cruz Mountains, Central Coast, CA
|
|
A unique expression of single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the regions best and most rugged growing sites. Usually hearty Cabernets like this don't show much fruit in the aroma for the first 3 to 5 years, but for some reason this site makes wine that leaps out of the glass when young.
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
From the Luchessi Vineyard -- known for it's rough and rugged terrain and for producing wines with character. The vines were planted in 1981 on an old-fashioned vineyard with head-trained vines and no trellis wires. The wine is aged in mostly neutral French oak, with a small percentage in neutral American oak, for 30 months. Only 236 cases produced.
Tasting Notes: The wine has many layers as it opens, including complexities of anise, vanilla and some chaparral herbs. This is a rugged and feisty Cabernet Sauvignon for hearty meals, and it will continue to age gracefully in the cellar for many years, easily going for two to three decades if properly cellared.
|
|
|
About Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard
|
|
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, established in 1975 by Ken Burnap, is a pioneering winery in California's Santa Cruz Mountains. Ken's dedication to producing exceptional Pinot Noir led him to the region, culminating in the 1975 vintage. In 1979, Jeff Emery joined as a part-time cellar worker, and by 2002, he had taken over the winery's operations. Following Ken's retirement in 2003, Jeff relocated the winery to a new facility near Boulder Creek in 2004. In 2008, the winery moved to its current location on the west side of Santa Cruz, opening its first tasting room and becoming part of the vibrant local wine scene.
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard is especially celebrated for its single vineyard bottlings, which reflect the distinct character of the rugged Santa Cruz Mountains terroir. Each single vineyard bottling is a testament to the winery's commitment to site-specific expression, with the winemaking process carefully adapted to bring out the nuanced qualities of each location.These limited-production wines, often sourced from old vines and meticulously farmed plots, emphasize balance, complexity, and a restrained style that allows the vineyard’s personality to take center stage. With minimal use of oak and moderate alcohol levels, these bottlings appeal to wine lovers seeking depth and finesse over boldness. For enthusiasts looking to explore the subtle diversity of the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard’s single vineyard wines offer a compelling and terroir-driven experience.
|
|
|
|
