Library Wines
2006 Vintage
Pinot Gris, Nielson Vineyard, Santa Maria
Valley
This wine is all about the grape –
there were no influences other than yeast and cold temperature.
There is a reminder of early morning sunshine in the pale
yellow color of the wine, which glints with a brilliance when
given a swirl. A bright bouquet of lemon-lime and tropical
notes are slowly unleashed and invite a first sip. Pears and
apple first impress and are then joined by mango, ripe pineapple
and a hint of almond on the very creamy and balanced palate.
A nice tangy and zingy finish brings back the lemon-lime characteristic
first noticed on the nose. Beautifully balanced, the 2006
Pinot Gris is superb with spicy foods, or with a good book
on a hot summer day.
Click
here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
2005 Vintage
Goat Bubbles
Did I mention that the 2005 vintage was
“almost leisurely”? One of the most wonderful
things about that harvest was that it gave me enough breathing
room to do something I’ve wanted to do for years –
craft a sparkling wine from Pinot Noir. There was that clone
23 at Solomon Hills just begging for bubbles. In 2005, I had
the time, the inclination and the grapes, so Goat Bubbles
was born!
The inaugural 2005 Goat Bubbles is a deep
rose colored, Brut Sparkling Rosé. The lively little
bubbles will tickle your nose, along with a hint of spiciness
and raspberry. Bursting with zinginess, there are hints of
wild strawberries and white peach on the palate, and a refreshingly
tangy, yet creamy, finish. Enjoy this sparkler before a meal,
with a meal or by itself! Sparkling wine – not just
for New Year's Eve anymore!
Click
here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
Pinot Gris, Nielson Vineyard, Santa Maria
Valley
This vintage will go down in history as
one of the easiest and amazing vintages in the County. Heavy
rains in the early part of the year leeched maritime salts
from the soils and channeled water and nutrients to the vine’s
rootstocks. Moderate temperatures throughout the summer extended
the growing season, and resulted in a vintage of exceptional
quality and generous quantity.
The heady aromatics of the wine foretell
of the refreshing profile to come. Pears and Fuji apples combine
with a hint of honeysuckle on the nose. A first taste refreshes
immediately with the crisp, clean mouthfeel complemented by
notes of key lime and kumquat. A lasting, pleasurable finish
reminiscent of lemon cream pie reveals the beautiful balance
of structure, body, acidity and fruit in this refreshing wine.
Click
here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
Pinot Noir, Dierberg Vineyard,
Santa Maria Valley
This is a bigger, more complex Dierberg
designate than in previous Flying Goat releases from this
vineyard. A deep ruby hue hints of the dark berry notes in
the glass. Aromas of black cherry mingle with hints of coffee
and smoke. Medium-bodied, this wine is very concentrated on
the mid-palate with dried raspberry flavors joining black
cherry, with a hint of leather. There is a lively acidity
that plays across the palate, with a persistent finish replete
with cedar nuances. This is an ageable wine that will continue
to soften and integrate with 6-8 years of cellaring.
Click
here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
Pinot Noir, Rancho Santa Rosa
Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
Dark! Probably the darkest Flying Goat wine
produced yet, this is a deep garnet colored Pinot Noir with
flashes of crimson on the edges. A swirl unleashes bursts
of concentrated blueberries, a hint of butterscotch and a
wisp of mocha chocolate. The first impression upon a taste
is the silky texture that glides across the palate, bringing
more blueberry notes, joined by black raspberry, cherry, black
plum and suggestions of menthol and cola. A long lingering
finish includes the typical reminder of Sta. Rita Hills minerality.
This is an elegant, seamless, integrated and rich wine with
beautiful balance. Just 140 cases produced. Drinkable now,
it can be cellared for another 3-6 years. This wine won the
Red Sweepstakes award at the prestigious San Francisco
Chronicle Wine Competition.
Click
here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
Pinot Noir, Rio Vista Vineyard, Clone 2A,
Sta. Rita Hills
A rich scarlet color with ruby edges first
delights the eye, and a good swirl starts to coax elegant
burgundian aromas from the wine. A perfume of rhubarb, sandalwood
spice and red raspberry is joined by a hint of barrel smokiness.
Bright fruit notes first wake up the palate upon a taste,
with notes of cranberry and black cherry mingling with pomegranate
and a hint of the typical Sta. Rita Hills cola. This wine
really evolves in the glass, with a spiciness and remembrance
of autumn “candied apples” surfacing, and then
leading to a beautiful follow-through and enduring finish.
Click
here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
2004 Vintage
The 2004 vintage was a crazy one. An unexpected
heat spike in early September accelerated ripening, causing
a flurry of activity as we harvested and processed the grapes
from our four vineyards one right after the other. No rest
for the weary during the harvest of 04! The wines turned out
beautifully.
Pinot Noir, Dierberg Vineyard, Santa Maria
Valley
One of the characteristics of Dierberg that
we just love is the smell and taste of that Santa Maria sunshine
– it shines through every bottle. You experience the
place through the wine. The 2004 Dierberg is a gorgeous ruby
color, with glints of garnet around the edges. Cherry aromas
– red, Bing and black – first delight the senses.
The perfume of clone 13 then leads to the darker fruits from
clone 113 on the palate. Plums, black cherry, cola and a beautiful
berry profile then lead to a red fruit profile of red plum
and rhubarb. There is a long finish of red fruit, followed
by hints of cocoa. The wine has layers of flavors, a nice
firm acidity and soft tannins – and that sunshine in
a bottle that just says “Dierberg” to us. This
wine is showing beautifully in its youth, but will continue
to integrate and gain complexity over the next 5-8 years.
Click
here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
Pinot Noir, Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard, Santa
Rita Hills
Classic Pinot Noir aromas abound, with blueberry
notes predominant, followed by caramel and a smokiness typical
of Rancho Santa Rosa. The blueberry notes are echoed on the
palate and joined by dark cherry, black plum and spice notes
of white pepper and wild sage. The layered complexity of this
wine then adds some cedar notes, leather and a mineral earthiness.
The texture is silky and seductive, and the finish lingering
with nuances of bittersweet chocolate and lovely, soft tannins
tempting your palate for just one more taste. Great structure,
nice balance and a “prettiness” on the palate.
Drink now through 2013.
Please
click here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
Pinot Noir, Rio Vista Vineyard, clone 2A,
Santa Rita Hills
A brilliant shade of crimson with magenta
highlights. A swirl unleashes aromas of berries, reminiscent
of freshly baked cranberry muffins and sour cherry. A sip
of this wine envelopes the palate with a silky texture carrying
notes of violets, spice and late summer rhubarb, a hint of
earthiness and a lingering, lasting reminiscent note of hard
raspberry candy.
Only 194 cases produced.
Click
here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
Pinot Noir, Rio Vista Vineyard,
Sta Rita Hills, Dijon clones
Jewel-like glints of garnet shine through
the brilliant clarity of the wine. There is a bit of masculinity
to this wine, and with a swirl, notes of leather, pepper and
dark blackberries unfold. A taste confirms the nose, adding
smoky, mouth coating tastes of cola and dried blueberry. A
medium body and firm structure are joined by lingering layers
and layers of flavors of dark fruit, earth and dusty bakers
chocolate tannins. 550 cases produced.
Click
here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
2003 Vintage
With the 2003 vintage, we continued to expand
the number of vineyards from which we receive fruit with the
addition of the Rio Vista Vineyard in Santa Rita Hills and
Solomon Hills Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley. These make
interesting contrasts to the wines from Dierberg Vineyard
in Santa Maria Valley (our third vintage) and from Rancho
Santa Rosa Vineyard in Santa Rita Hills (our second vintage).
Pinot Noir, Solomon Hills Vineyard, Santa
Maria Valley, 2003
It has a dark crimson color and a beautiful
clarity and a bouquet of black cherry and plum, with subtle
nuances of leather, and spice and that characteristic Santa
Maria nose of sunny meadows on a warm day. The fruit is big
on the palate, with red plums, toasty notes of vanilla and
a bit of cherry cola. The texture is mouth-coating, with firm
tannins, a nice balance of acidity and a lingering, round
finish.
Drink now through 2009.
Please
click here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
Pinot Noir, Dierberg Vineyards, Santa Maria
Valley, 2003
The wine first delights the eye with a bright
ruby and garnet color – a jewel of a wine. Ripe fruit
aromas with hints of plum, black cherry and dried apricots
lead to nuances of leather, coffee and cola. Swirling the
wine encourages it to open, and tastes of firm red fruit,
vanilla, and earthy tones delight the palate. Another taste
reveals a bit of chocolate, tar and red currants. This wine
has a medium body, with smooth texture and a lingering acidity
on the firm, round finish. This is a wine that is showing
well in its youth, but has ample room to grow.
Drink now through 2009.
Please
click here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
Pinot Noir, Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyards, Santa
Rita Hills, 2003
A classic Pinot Noir that continues to impress
as it gains a little bottle age, the 2003 Rancho Santa Rosa
first pleases the eye with its beautiful crimson color. Typical
of the Rancho Santa Rosa vineyard, a first sniff exhibits
aromas of concentrated blueberry and strawberry, with a hint
of smoke. Flavors of dried orange peel, earth, mushroom and
subtle white pepper then lead to new layers of sweet red cherries,
mineral tones and a bit of chalk, which probably originate
in the limestone soils of the property. The texture of this
wine is beautiful – the silkiness just glides across
the palate and leaves a lingering taste in the mouth that
goes on and on. Try this wine with a good, dark chocolate!
Mouth coating soft tannins, good structure and nice balance.
Drink now through 2010.
Please
click here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
Pinot Noir, Rio Vista Vineyard, Santa Rita
Hills, 2003
We have no problem with color in Santa Barbara
County Pinot Noirs! The 2003 Rio Vista has glints of ruby
and jet in its dark garnet color. The nose is astounding,
with lovely hints of candied caramel, coffee, dried blackberries
and pepper spice. Delightful notes of smoke, black fruit,
red apples, cranberries and cherry pie explode on the palate
with layers upon layers of flavors. There is even a reminiscent
hint of a good Tequila flavor once in awhile. This is a very
full bodied wine with tremendous balance, wonderful texture
and great structure. It is still behaving as a young wine,
sometimes showy and sometimes reticent so we recommend opening
the wine and decanting to allow it to open up more fully.
Drink now through 2013.
Please
click here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
2002 Vintage
 With
the 2002 vintage, we were finally be able to showcase wines
from those two appellations in Santa Barbara County that produce
excellent, premium, fantastic Pinot Noir – Santa Maria
Valley and Santa Rita Hills.
Pinot Noir, Dierberg Vineyard, Santa Maria
Valley, 2002
The wine starts out in the nose with big
up-front ripe fruit aromas of black cherry, blueberry and
RC cola (from a glass bottle!), entwined with a feeling of
bright sunshine and the great outdoors. These luscious ripe
fruit aromas carry over into the mouth, where the wine shows
an abundance of supple black plums, cherries and red currants
coupled with sweet mocha flavors and a hint of sweet, wild
sage. The precise balance of acids and tannin in the wine
is reminiscent of rhubarb and the lively, lingering finish
presents layers of complexity.
Drink now through 2008.
Please
click here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
Pinot Noir, Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard, Santa
Rita Hills, 2002
Deep garnet color, aromas of fresh blueberries,
cranberries and smoke. Mouth-coating tannins give the wine
a firm structure which is backed up with flavors of wild berry,
spices and plum jam. This is a multi-layered wine with interesting
complexity, a rich core of ripe flavors, great balance and
a long smooth finish.
Drink now through 2010.
Please
click here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
 2001
Vintage
Pinot Noir, Dierberg Vineyard, Santa Maria
Valley, 2001
The first year for any wine from anyone
from Dierberg vineyard. We think this is a lovely Pinot, full
of rich, dark fruit flavors and warm earthy notes. This wine
starts out with aromas of black cherry and blueberry fruit
characteristics, with hints of cinnamon spice. Once it opens
up, there is an underlying layer of cola, vanilla and earthy
tones. It has a beautiful medium, ruby color. The body is
smooth and yet delightfully rustic, and the finish is firm
and clean.
Drink now through 2008.
Please
click here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
 2000
Vintage
Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Hills Vineyard, Santa
Maria Valley, 2000
The first wine released with a Flying Goat
Cellars label! Black cherry and a hint of spice mingle with
leather and mushroom in this full-bodied wine.The silky texture
and fruit flavors make this a great wine to drink by itself,
but it is superb with oak-planked salmon, cioppino or paella.
Drink now.
Please
click here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
|
