It was very rewarding and a joy to craft this vintage of the Quail Hill Pinot Noir because we saw a beautiful wine emerge from a vintage that was so nerve wracking and where potential quality was not so immediately apparent. What we have in this wine is taut highly aromatic expression of our estate vineyard where elegance, balance, and structure are all seamlessly interwoven. While the color is “moderate” versus intensely deep, color has never been what this wine is about. Aroma and perfume are what sets this wine apart, and those qualities are more pronounced than any recent vintage. There is wonderful purity in the fruit and spice notes with strawberry, currant, red raspberry, and orange pekoe tea complementing the more classic cherry cola, baking spice, and floral characters. Flavors are nicely in line with the aromas and additionally include slight “pencil shavings” reduction, wet stone mineral notes, and very subtle well integrated toasty oak. The texture here is still youthfully firm but with a vibrant energy that clearly tells you its best days are ahead. Tannins are grainy but balanced and work with the brisk acidity that to yield an exceptionally long, flavorful finish. Like most of our top 2006’s, this wine will be enjoyable upon release but will really benefit from further bottle age until at least the spring or fall of 2009, with more complexity developing during cellaring through at least 2012.

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Our “Bliss Block” Pinot Noir is from a unique part of the estate and in one of the coolest pockets of the property. From the very beginning this vineyard block gave us wines of a highly distinctive and individualistic quality. It was also a vineyard block that begged to be farmed fully organically, which we now do and are committed to continue. This is our first block designate from Quail Hill Vineyard since 1999.

The appearance here is immediately enticing being medium deep ruby-purple with a strong violet halo. On opening the nose is earthy and smoky, revealing red and black cherries and ripe raspberries once the wine gets a little air. Upon further opening there emerges additional complexity with notes of spicy, toasty oak and mushroom slowly becoming evident. The palate is bright and attractive, and clearly very drinkable right now! The flavors are full of summer fruits (red and black crushed fruit), with creamy cedar and subtle herbal accents. The texture has lovely balance, between fine acidity and elegant silky tannins providing good length and a fresh finish. This wine is approachable now, and can be drunk with or without food. However, this vintage will improve for at least 5 years (through 2013), during which time we expect to see the continuation of the fine balance between fruit-driven
and earthy complexity which sets this wine apart.

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While this bottling shares many characteristics with the 2004, the combination of a great vintage, improved vine health and careful farming have yielded a notable increase in intensity and nuance. Focused aromas of lemon meringue, cantaloupe, ruby red grapefruit and a hint of lychee dance above the spicier, earthier notes of caraway seed, vanilla bean and baked pears. Bright acidity and minerality are immediately apparent on the palate, framing notes of blood orange, Gravenstein apple, tarragon and papaya. The floral lily note typical of Musqué clone Chardonnay is also present, as are earthy notes of ginger, white chocolate and a hint of fresh bread dough on the finish. The texture is rich but by no means cloying. Drink from late-2007 onwards.

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For the 2006 vintage, the Quail Hill vineyard gave us bright yellow-green gold color in the glass, leading into a complex nose of toast, peaches & cream, bread, acacia, and hazelnuts. The aromas are fresh and compelling with noticeable intensity and focus. The palate is full bodied and rich yet elegant in mouthfeel. Just the right amount of “classic” reduction and toasty oak are wrapped around notes of apricots, white pepper, ripe lemons and orange blossom. The richness here is well balanced by good acidity and solid depth
of fruit. There is a long, well structured finish that echoes the freshness of the nose and is quite appealing. This wine is approachable now but will keep and improve for at least 5 years more through 2013.

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While this bottling shares many characteristics with the 2004, the combination of a great vintage, improved vine health and careful farming have yielded a notable increase in intensity and nuance. Focused aromas of lemon meringue, cantaloupe, ruby red grapefruit and a hint of lychee dance above the spicier, earthier notes of caraway seed, vanilla bean and baked pears. Bright acidity and minerality are immediately apparent on the palate, framing notes of blood orange, Gravenstein apple, tarragon and papaya. The floral lily note typical of Musqué clone Chardonnay is also present, as are earthy notes of ginger, white chocolate and a hint of fresh bread dough on the finish. The texture is rich but by no means cloying. Drink from late-2007 onwards.

Accolades:

• 91 POINTS - Wine Spectator, July 31, 2008 issue
• 91 POINTS - Wine Enthusiast, April 2008
• "Best of the Best California Chardonnay" - Quarterly Review of Wines

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Brooding ruby-purple color that leads to intense aromas of dark cherry fruit beautifully highlighted by spice, leather and toast. The structure and fruit clearly express the wonderful terroir of the “true Sonoma Coast” as this vineyard is right on the border of the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast appellations. Fine grained, grippy, silken tannins are wrapped around layers of red and black berry fruit, and hints of truffle. The balance between fruit, acid and oak influence is ideal, with excellent length delivering a powerful finish. This lovely wine is approachable now, but will improve with bottle age for at least 5 years and will keep easily for 3-5 more.

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Just 240 cases produced.
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This second vintage of our Jenkins Vineyard Pinot Noir has much in common with the first, especially with its aromas and flavors. Once again, we have very pure, fresh notes of both red and dark fruits being complemented by a subtle, yet distinct, spiciness. The palate here has much more of a typical youthful “leanness” than the ‘05, but once again shows exceptional length and refreshing acidity. What you see this year is a true reflection of the growing season and how the unique transparency of Pinot Noir allows this to be captured and showcased better than with ANY other variety. We expect this wine to begin showing at its best during the summer of 2008 and to reward careful cellaring through 2012+.

Accolades:

• 91 POINTS - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2008

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This vintage is sold out. To inquire about the next release of this wine, call the winery: 877-282-3441

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Our first vintage of Terra de Promissio Vineyard Pinot Noir has a beautiful deep color and a brooding nose of both red and dark fruits, wet earth, and subtle toasty barrel spice. Once this wine gets some air and warms up, the aromas really leap from the glass with high-toned red fruit notes of strawberry and cherry being particularly noticeable. Flavors are complex and layered, not immediately echoing the aromas, but balanced and with intense fruit in the long, lingering finish. The texture is youthfully firm, with grainy, grippy tannins in just the right proportion to the fruit. We expect this wine to begin showing at its best during the fall of ‘08 and to reward cellaring through 2013+.

Accolades:

• 91 POINTS - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2008

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The Five Sisters Pinot Noir is a tribute to the sibling bond of my five daughters. This blend of the finest barrels from Lynmar’s Estate and offsite vineyards mirrors the synergy and complexity of the relationship that exists among these very special sisters. True to the Lynmar philosophy, the Five Sisters Pinot Noir is a wine which illustrates that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Handcrafted in minute quantities only when vintage and quality warrant, this wine continues the Five Sisters tradition of presence and intensity balanced by nuance, grace and age worthiness.

The 2005 vintage marks our second Five Sisters release since 1999. Hugh Chappelle has produced an exemplary Pinot Noir with youthful garnet and violet tones. An unusual amount of floral high notes including some uncommon spiciness with notes of coriander, clove and gunflint. The fruit character is in the ripe, dark spectrum, with melded aromas of cherry cola, black raspberry and ripe strawberries. The palate is viscous and rich, yet light on its feet but to ultrafine tannins and an exceptionally balanced acidity. Drink now or cellar 7-8+ years.

Accolades:

• 92 POINTS - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2008

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Beautiful color of deep gold with lovely green highlights. On the nose, rich notes of peaches and cream are over-laid by great complexity of hazelnuts, acacia and toasty French oak. These enticing aromas last and last, becoming more and more complex as the wine opens in the glass. The palate is full and rich, with elegant cool-climate acidity to balance the concentrated apricot and peach fruit notes. Luscious flavors of butterscotch and cedar oak play wonderfully against accents of wild mushroom and forest floor. The finish is fresh, pure and very long. Our first vintage of Zephyr Farms Chardonnay is very approachable and enjoyable now but will become more complex and rich with time, if you can keep your hands off it! We expect this wine to improve with cellaring for 3-5 more years, or through 2011-2013.

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Only 50 cases of this wine was produced, allocated to our 6- and 12-bottle Club Members.
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Our second vintage of La Sereinité remains an exciting and truly distinctive wine. The color is again classically light golden, though with a bit more yellow this year due to the very lightest touch of Botrytis. The result is a nose with not only a dominant core of citrus aromas, but also noticeable hints of apricot, peach. These vintage characteristics are highlighted by toasty, grilled bread notes and uncommon minerality for a California Chardonnay. The palate upon release shows bracing acidity and firm structure, but with a solid, round mid-palate leading into a pleasantly long finish. We anticipate this wine to begin showing at its best from May 2008 onwards, with optimal maturity between 2009 and 2011.

Accolades:

• 91 POINTS - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2008

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The color this year is immediately bright and youthful with an attractive violet hue and a translucence that boldly declares this is not another “over-extracted” Syrah-like Pinot Noir. Aromas begin with an assortment of wonderfully forward red fruits such as pie cherry, strawberry, and cranberry. These upfront fruit characters are accented by complexing notes of baking spice, deeper dark fruits, and orange blossom. There is also a subtle earthiness here that evokes the local coastal forests and the breezes coming in from Pacific….giving this wine a heightened sense of place. On the palate cleansing, “zippy” acidity results in a taut, yet balanced, structure with flavors that truly linger and draw you back. Always enjoyable upon release, this wine will only get better through fall of 2009, and should continue to reward cellaring through 2012.

Accolades:

• 89 POINTS - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2008

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In appearance, a water rim edge leads to a pale salmon core in color with bright clarity and medium intensity. The nose is clean, of medium
intensity and youthful development. Fresh aromas of strawberry, cranberry, cherry and raspberry lead to faint touches of blood orange and
rose petal. The palate is dry, alcohol balanced, and the wine is of medium body and flavor intensity. The flavors mimic and confirm the
nose. Medium plus acidity leaves a refreshingly crisp and balanced finish of medium plus length. There is really no reason to age this wine,
as its charms are precisely its youth and its clean, satisfying, thirst-quenching quality. Enjoy!

This vintage is sold out. To inquire about the next release of this wine, call the winery: 877-282-3441

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While there is a thread of continuity from this 2006 back through recent vintages, there is also a clear sense of evolution. Each of the contributing vineyards has added a layer, and more than ever the sum is truly greater than the parts. A forward aroma of lemon custard and lemon zest is backed by a faint lime juice quality, reminiscent of a crisp, finely-crafted margarita! Secondary aromas of apple and pear play off of a perfume-like floral character. A wisp of roasted nut and a touch of chalk dust “minerality” add complexity. The flavors confirm the nose where citrus, apple, pear and floral notes abound. The palate is definitely dry with wonderfully balanced body, flavor intensity, and acidity. The finish lingers just long enough to entice another sip! Enjoy upon release or cellar through 2010.

Accolades:

• 91 POINTS, Wine Spectator
  July 31, 2008 issue

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This beautiful wine is deep purple, with a pronounced violet rim, and clearly youthful. The lovely and complex nose of ash, bramble fruit, meat, and pepper evolves in the glass, but is concentrated and appealing from the start. While fresh and approachable now this wine will clearly improve with cellaring. The palate is highlighted by flavors of blackberry, damson plum, alongside more subtle smoky, toasty animal notes. The cedar-spice French oak is beautifully balanced by the red and dark fruit, good acidity, and fine-grained tannins. The finish is long and intense, and enjoyable now if you “like
‘em young”, but clearly reinforces the aromas and flavors with the potential to develop and improve over the next several years. This is a “real” wine that will complement many foods well yet will still be enjoyable on its own. Drink now and stock up if you like it as it should keep for up to 7-8 years, or through 2015-2016.

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