Wine Club Newsletter FEBRUARY 2018
Greetings from Santa Barbara County's Sta. Rita Hills AVA I hope you all had a great holiday season and even better start to 2018! This past December, many parts of Southern California were at risk due to wildfires. We are happy to report that our tasting room is open, and our employees are safe and accounted for. Our thoughts lie with those who were displaced by the fires and the brave firemen and women who combatted these fires fearlessly. Currently, winter is in full swing here in Sta. Rita Hills. The vineyards lie dormant, the cover crops have grown between the vineyard rows, and our vineyard team began pruning. The lack of rain at the end of 2017 slowed the rate at which the cover crop established; however, after some rains in 2018, the cover crop took hold nicely. As the cover crop grows taller, it is mowed and diced into the ground. This helps introduce nutrients into the soil without having to fertilize. We are also pruning, or cutting back the number of shoots, in the vineyards. This helps concentrate the clusters and ultimately improve fruit quality. These are just some of the vineyard practices we employ to consistently produce ultra-fine, handmade wines from our exemplary vineyard sites. In this shipment, you are receiving the Bar Lazy S Ranch series of wines. These wines are made in a California style with ripe, full-bodied characteristics at the forefront and cool-climate Sta. Rita Hills expressions throughout. The 2015 Bar Lazy S Ranch Chardonnay is big and round with a good firm structure, tropical fruit and confection. The Bar Lazy S Ranch Pinot Noir is a ripe, fruit forward bottling that was aged in 50% new French oak. Its cooperage highlights the spice and vanilla notes as they carry through to the lingering finish. Our Master Sommelier has selected a food pairing I encourage you to enjoy alongside this wine. I hope you enjoy these wines, and see you soon at the winery! Sincerely, Ryan Aura, Winemaker
FEATURED WINE SELECTION Your wine selection will vary based upon your club membership 2015 FOLEY BAR LAZY S RANCH CHARDONNAY, STA. RITA HILLS Winemaking The grapes were gently whole-cluster pressed and transferred to tank after harvest. After a day of cold-settling, the juice was inoculated and racked to French and American oak barrels. It then underwent 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 aging for 18 months in 50% new French and American oak barrels, the wine was bottled. Tasting This 2015 Bar Lazy S Ranch Chardonnay is a classic California style Chardonnay with ripe fruit and vanilla barrel notes. Beautiful confectionery aromatics of butterscotch, vanilla, and powdered sugar fill the glass. The palate is filled with flavors of toffee and brown butter cookies which evolve into a round mouthfeel. Roasted vanilla bean, custard and oak linger on the finish. Appellation Vineyard Composition Cooperage Alcohol TA ph Retail Sta. Rita Hills Rancho Santa Rosa East 100% Chardonnay 18 months in French and American oak, 50% new 14.3% 7.1 g/l 3.31 $45
2015 FOLEY BAR LAZY S RANCH PINOT NOIR, STA. RITA HILLS Winemaking We harvest our grapes based on the ripeness of the tannins. For Pinot Noir this usually occurs between 24.5-27.0 Brix with the 2015 harvest coming in at a balanced 25.0. The clusters were then gently de-stemmed with no crushing. The must was cold-soaked in open-top fermenters for four days. Each tank was manually punched down throughout maceration. Upon completion of primary fermentation and maceration, the free-run wine was transferred to tank for settling. Next, the individual lots were racked to barrels and aged for 18 months prior to blending and bottling. Tasting This 2015 Bar Lazy S Ranch Pinot Noir is a lovely light ruby hue. Mouthwatering aromatics of cherries and candied raspberries emerge immediately upon entering the glass. The palate has flavors of red fruits, cardamom and raspberry liqueur accented by a touch of vanilla from the French oak. A pop of bright acidity and toasted cocoa persist on the finish. Appellation Vineyard Composition Cooperage Alcohol TA ph Retail Sta. Rita Hills Rancho Santa Rosa East 100% Pinot Noir 18 months French oak, 50% new 14.3% 6.7 g/l 3.48 $55
FOOD AND WINE PAIRING 2015 Foley Bar Lazy S Ranch Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills The Bar Lazy S Ranch Pinot Noir s intense palate boasts developed dark fruits leading into coffee and dusty cocoa. Wild Mushroom Sugo served with a poached egg, golden beets, and creamy herbed polenta complements this wine seamlessly. The Pinot s intense berry notes balance the earthiness and the richness of the mushrooms, and the wine s acidic components are well matched to the creamy polenta. Robert Smith, M.S. SAVE THE DATE Mark your calendars for our upcoming events! * Chardonnay Party Saturday, May 19, 2018 2pm 5pm Save the date for our Chardonnay Party at Foley Estates! Event will feature our full line up of Chardonnays, each with varying oak treatments and winemaking styles. RSVP information to come. *Wine Club members and guests are urged to exercise care in making turns onto and off Highway 246. For those traveling from Lompoc, please do not queue up behind other left-turning vehicles. If another vehicle is waiting to turn left into the winery, please proceed on to the next intersection to execute your left turn.
REORDER OFFERS Enjoy 30% savings on reorders of current club wines. Order 12 or more bottles of any of the current club wines and receive 1 ground shipping while supplies last (not valid to HI or AK). To order, please visit www.foleywines.com, or contact us at (866) 485-6588 or wineclub@foleywines.com. Offer expires March 19, 2018. 2015 Bar Lazy S Ranch Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills 2015 Bar Lazy S Ranch Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills $31.50 Club Reorder Price $38.50 - 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# FE0218