Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar newsletter is an independent and critically acclaimed publication, read by wine lovers in 50 states and 34 countries. We will thrilled to be reviewed in a recent edition:

2005 Pinot Noir, Salisbury Vineyards, San Luis Obispo County 87+
Bright red. Spicy red berries are complemented by incense and smoky vanillin oak. Tangy red fruits are given depth by vanilla and mocha, with gentle tannins contributing structure. Finishes sweet and persistent, with an echo of oak spice. There's excellent, sweet fruit here, but the oak is just a bit strident right now.

2005 Pinot Noir, Rio Vista Vineyard Clone 2A, Sta. Rita Hills 91
Light red. Exotically perfumed aromas of strawberry, orange zest, sandalwood and cinnamon. Bright and spicy, offering sweet red berry and blood orange flavors, silky tannins and excellent mineral lift. A suave cinnamon quality builds on the long, energetic finish. This boasts impressive finesse and clarity, in a distinctly Burgundian style.

2005 Pinot Noir, Solomon Hills Vineyards, Santa Maria Valley 90+
Light, bright-hued red. Vibrant red berry aromas offer an energetic, sharply focused personality. Racy redcurrant and strawberry flavors are youthfully taut but concentrated, delivering tangy punch and finishing with impressive persistence. Gained weight and sweetness with air, suggesting that some cellar time will be rewarded. (The 2006 Dierberg Vineyard pinot packed a sweet fruity punch but struggled under a heavy blanket of vanillin oak

Flying Goat Cellars Owner and winemaker Norm Yost is a veteran winemaker in Santa Barbara County whose label specializes in limited quanitites of vineyard designated Pinot Noirs from the Central Coast. He crafts his beautiful Pinot Noirs in a small winery in the Lompoc ghetto. The 2005 Flying Goat Cellars Rancho Santa Rosa Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir ($44) won the Red Wine Sweepstakes Award at the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (now sold out not surprisingly). The 2005 Flying Goat Cellars Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir ($42) is every bit as good and still available. The Dierberg is aromatically stylish with a palate which is soft, plush, long and tasty. Flat out beautiful. Oh, the Dierberg won a Gold Medal at the same competition.

Goat Wine Wins Sweepstakes

Yowza! We entered our wines in the very prestigious San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and….they won! Could’ve knocked me over with a goat-feather when I heard that the 2005 Pinot Noir, Rancho Santa Rosa was given the Sweepstakes Award (best wine voted by all judges) for red wines – not only a Gold medal and Best of Class, but the big enchilada. Wow. And what a grand day, as the 2005 Pinot Noir, Dierberg Vineyard was lauded with a gold medal. Score two for goat wine! |
Read all about it here.

Harvest Begins at Flying Goat!

We were just in the middle of crushing the first grapes of the 2006 vintage when our local newspaper, The Lompoc Record, happened by. An appropriate “Cheers”, as the first grapes are designated for our 2006 sparkling wine!
Read all about it here.

No barnyard flavors in this lovely Pinot!

Respected wine critic Anthony Dias Blue selects his favorite wines from the more than 500 that he tastes each month. We are very pleased that he recently awarded our 2004 Pinot Noir from Rancho Santa Rosa 90 points (“outstanding”) and a recommended wine!

"90 Flying Goat Cellars 2004 Pinot Noir, Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard, Santa Rita Hills
Named for their two pet pygmy goats, but no barnyard flavors in this lovely Pinot; just searing acidity and interesting cucumber notes."

Splendor in the Glass

In the premier issue of Wine Adventure magazine, Jamie Garrett included our 03 Solomon Hills Pinot as one of his Expert Picks.

"Flying Goat Cellars is certainly a prodigy as far as California’s Central Coast Burgundy is concerned. I continue to be impressed, because not only are Norm Yost’s wines brilliant, but he chose the silly yet unforgettable name of Flying Goat Cellars just because his kids thought it was cool!" (note from Norm….the “kids” in this case are the goats themselves! We don’t really know if they think it’s cool or not!) "The nose is full of ripe berries and the palate is not much different. There are especially ripe black currants, raspberries and strawberries, along with a full body. This is a superb Pinot Noir selection for a barbeque on the beach or at home."

Heavy Medals in the OC

Our 2003 Pinot Noir from the Solomon Hills Vineyard not only received a silver medal at the Orange County Fair Wine Competition for the wine itself, but also placed third in the “Whimsical Label Category”. We like to say this wine is “serious fun!”

Heard Through the Grapevine

The June/July issue of the California Grapevine had some really nice things to say about our wines. The group tasted three 03’s – Rio Vista, Dierberg and Rancho Santa Rosa and awarded all three their “Highly Recommended” rating. Adjectives that we like to see were scattered throughout their tasting notes: “attractive, intense, rich, supple, well balanced, lingering aftertaste”, as well as the most important one to us – “enjoyable”. Click here for more information on this publication.

Score!

The Pinot Report just came out, and two of our 2002 wines were reviewed. Both received an “Outstanding; approaching the Best” rating. Hopefully you have a few of these in your cellar – if not, we think the 03 vintage is just as yummy!

2002 Dierberg Vineyard 92 points! “Medium-deep ruby purple color; rich cheery and plum aromas, sweet oak on nose; rich cherry and plum fruit, lots of juicy flavors, mouthwatering, moderate toasty oak, good structure and balance; long finish. Beautiful fruit flavors, very nicely balanced. Great with salmon or pastas.”

2002 Rancho Santa Rosa 90 points! “Medium-deep ruby purple color; subtle cherry, spice and sweet oak aromas; medium bodied, cherry and sweet oak flavors with some spice, good structure and balance, lingering finish. Lighter style of Pinot with delicious spice and cherry flavors.”