Wine Club Newsletter MAY 2 0 1 6
Greetings from Santa Barbara County s AVA, Happy summer everyone! Our rolling hillside estate is blanketed with beautiful green vines that are progressing nicely. For this shipment, we have some greats for you. I wanted to highlight each of them for you and delve deeper into what makes each so unique. Our T Anchor Ranch Pinot Noirs are clonally specific always being the Pommard clone and consistently coming from our Rancho Santa Rosa West Block W (one of my beloved vineyard blocks). So it differs mainly in these specific clones and vineyard sites to create totally unique wines. In contrast, for the Barrel Select Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the foundation is really from the palate of the winemaker. Every year I do a series of scored tastings on all of our Pinot and Chardonnay lots. It s a simple system of +,-,0 scoring for each lot, and over time as the wine evolves and ages I will start to make note of exceptional blocks (ones that have received multiple + scores). Then of those high scoring blocks I taste through each individual barrel to select and choose the barrels for the barrel select wines. So really this wine has not been clonally specific like the T Anchor Ranch, but rather it is always 100% new oak and chosen by me as a standout lot. The nuance of each vintage is really showcased in this wine for it is not limited to highlighting one specific block or one specific clone. To me, the barrel select wines feature something that I, as the winemaker, found really special and selected my favorite barrels to share. Of course, I have some of my favorite cooperages in these wines as well. Therefore, it not only highlights exceptional wine, but also exceptional oak expression and synergy. There is a lot that goes into each specific wine which makes for a great comparative tasting. I suggest trying that with friends over a wonderful fresh meal this summer. As always, I hope to see you this summer for our Un-wined concert series. Sincerely, Lorna Kreutz, Winemaker
Featured Wine Section Your wine selection will vary based upon your club membership 2013 Foley Chardonnay, Rancho Santa Rosa, Sta. RitA Hills Winemaking The grapes were gently whole-cluster pressed and transferred to tank following harvest. After a day of cold-settling, the juice was racked to a combination of French and American oak barrels, 30% new oak. Once primary fermentation was complete, it then underwent malolactic fermentation with regular stirring of the lees for added texture and complexity. All lots were kept separate throughout vinification and aging to ensure character, distinctiveness and quality. After 18 months in barrel under cool cellar conditions, the wine was blended and bottled. Delightfully elegant floral notes of orange blossom, linden, and honeysuckle awaken your senses. Flavors are fresh and inviting on the palate with bright minerality complemented by zippy tangerine fruit. Soft oak notes linger on the finish with flavors of nutmeg, vanilla and toasted pecans. Rancho Santa Rosa 100% Chardonnay 18 months in French and American oak, 30% new 14.3% 6.9 g/l 3.2 $30
2012 Foley Pinot Noir, t anchor ranch, Vintage 2012 was an abundant vintage in the. A pleasantly mild spring and summer with little rain, and no frost allowed the grapes to ripen evenly, producing both high quality and quantity of the grapes. The moderate weather allowed for minimal disease pressure. The fruit was hand harvested on September 13, 2012. Composed entirely of the Pommard clone, our 2012 T Anchor Ranch Pinot Noir draws you in with black pepper, hints of nutmeg, and black cherry cola. Leading with flavors of juicy blackberry, it has a bold tannin structure that showcases subtle nuances of white pepper, tobacco and anise. Pair with a garlic roasted pork or grilled quail with Goji berries. Lindsay s 100% Pinot Noir 18 months in French oak, 40% new 14.1% 6.6 g/l 3.39 $55
2013 Foley Pinot Noir, t anchor ranch, Serene. That s the best descriptor for our estate vineyards. Located in the AVA of Santa Barbara County, these stunning hillsides feature vines that climb from 500 to 1,000 feet above sea level. The soils are marine-based and the weather is consistently cool thanks to moist ocean breezes that sweep the property daily. Enticing aromas of succulent, juicy boysenberry with subtle nuances of sweet, black licorice and blackberry jam draw you in. The palate displays moderate acidity with tremendous dark fruit notes characteristic of the Pommard clone of Pinot Noir. These flavors of boysenberry, charred black cherries, and hints of black pepper and sweet tobacco spice are framed by elegant tannins and a balanced acidity. Lindsay s and Courtney s West Block W 100% Pinot Noir 16 months in French oak, 40% new 14.1% 6.5 g/l 3.44 $55
2013 Barrel Select Chardonnay, Winemaking Following harvest, the grapes were gently whole-cluster pressed and transferred to tank. The fruit was racked into 100% new French and Hungarian oak barrels where it underwent weekly stirring of the lees to add texture and complexity. After 18 months of aging, the wine was bottled. Our 2013 Barrel Select Chardonnay is made from only the best hand selected fruit harvested from our Rancho Santa Rosa. This wine has layers of complexity which include a flinty stone minerality that synergizes with the flavors of stone fruit, clementine, and creme brulee. It has great length and structure with a long finish of grilled pineapple and toasted vanilla bean. Rancho Santa Rosa 100% Chardonnay 100% new French and Hungarian oak 14.3% 7.1 g/l 3.14 $50 Reorder offers Please reorder from the feature wines of this shipment at 30% off of the retail price; offer expires June 13th, 2016. To order, please contact the Foley Wine Club at 866-485-6588, or wineclub@foleywines.com. Standard shipping rates apply to orders of 1 to 11 bottles, complimentary shipping on orders of 12 bottles or more of the following wines: 2013 Barrel Select Chardonnay, 2013 Barrel Select Pinot Noir, 2012 T Anchor Ranch Pinot Noir, 2013 T Anchor Ranch Pinot Noir, 2013 Rancho Santa Rosa Chardonnay, $35 - Club Reorder Price $42 - Club Reorder Price $38.50 - Club Reorder Price $38.50 - Club Reorder Price $21 - Club Reorder Price 6121 E Highway 246, Lompoc, CA 93436 805.737.6222 foleywines.com tastingroom@foleywines.com Share your Foley experiences online using #FoleyEstates CT Permit #LSL.001291 WA Permit #404307 Item# FW0516