Stefania Wine
San Jose, CA
Grape Puncher
Posts:725
 | | 11/05/2003 1:21 AM |
| I was bored today and put this together, as I get asked this from time to time.
Santa Cruz Mountains Vintage Chart
Any and all feedback is appreciated and if there is enough interest I'll expand it and keep it up to date. | |
Paul Romero - Owner/Winemaker Stefania Wine
www.stefaniawine.com | |
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GATC
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2420
| | 11/05/2003 2:27 AM |
| Thanks. Interesting information for this neglected area. Since I am an hour south of Napa and an hour north of this area, I can appreciate the differences in the climate each year.
I have to admit that even though I am close to this area, the only wines that I've tried from this area the last 25+ years is Ridge Montibello and just recently Kathryn Kennedy and Cooper Garrod. | | | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10356
| | 11/05/2003 2:37 AM |
| tlily - we are going to drink some Ridge Monte Bello 97s on Friday in Napa. We'll let you know how it goes. | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13626
| | 11/05/2003 2:20 PM |
| Kewl, tlily. Nice little write-up there, dude. Nice to see ya posting, too.
Man, my hockey team sucks. But the Caps **spanked** the Lightning last night -- heh heh heh!  | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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Stefania Wine
San Jose, CA
Grape Puncher
Posts:725
| | 11/05/2003 5:19 PM |
| Thanks for the feedback all, glad some took the time to look. I'll try and keep you all informed on my adventures here as well, and posting notes when we go out tasting.
I've fought with this a fair bit, the last thing I want to do is come off like one of those 'local" hucksters lecturing about how everyone needs to try the wines from Long Island, Virginia, the Yukon, Nebraska, or wherever they are from. | |
Paul Romero - Owner/Winemaker Stefania Wine
www.stefaniawine.com | |
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Matt Letson
Barrel Filler
Posts:1339
| | 11/05/2003 6:20 PM |
| Well done, tlily. Sounds like the 2000 Mount Eden Old Vines Reserve might be a buy (just got my mailer), given your outlook on the 2000 vintage in Santa Cruz.
Goes to show that you cannot assume that a mediocre Napa vintage means a mediocre Santa Cruz vintage.
Thanks. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15701
| | 11/05/2003 6:33 PM |
| tlily,
I hope people don't think you are hawking our favorite AVA. Some of the best wines come from here. And you are certainly the most knowledgable forumite on Santa Cruz Mtns than anyone I know. We have some world class wines here. Note to mention Montebello w've got Randall Grahams stuff that is distributed almost everywhere. It is good to see you over here. I hope you come more often.
I'll need you two in 2005 to pick our third leaf. Let's get together before that. I need to set up a small tasting for us local guys. I'll jump on it next week. | | | |
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Stefania Wine
San Jose, CA
Grape Puncher
Posts:725
| | 11/05/2003 6:43 PM |
| mletson,
The 2000 Old Vine Reserve will be the last. The "old fellows" were ripped out in 2001. Mount Eden Vineyards is closed for visits now, not even by appointment or on Passport days so I don't get to taste until they release. This wine can be almost immortal. I remember a review by Robert Parker of the 1974, on it's 20th anniversary, where he said the wine might still mature for 20-30 years more and hold for 50 (2044). | |
Paul Romero - Owner/Winemaker Stefania Wine
www.stefaniawine.com | |
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Stefania Wine
San Jose, CA
Grape Puncher
Posts:725
| | 11/05/2003 9:24 PM |
| davidn,
I'd be happy to pick, prune, sucker, tie up, whatever 
I took the vineyard in Portola Valley after all, he made me a good offer I couldn't pass up, and will have a little Zin and Cab to work with next year as well as my Syrah and Grenache. I'm also gonna see about getting the Pinot 'offically' next year and seeing if I can get a little CG Cab.
Stef and I are doing the math and ground work now on finding a space and getting the equipment for crush next year. I figure I can use the money from my Sharks tickets to help get us started since it sounds like they will be locked out. If it looks too tough to go it alone, I'm thinking of renting/begging for space from Clos LaChance, S.C. or someone else.
Funny thing this morning. She's never heard ofBrian Loring , but she sent me a link with a picture of him covered in grape stain from a crush and said "this guy looks like you at crush." | |
Paul Romero - Owner/Winemaker Stefania Wine
www.stefaniawine.com | |
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gus fleener
gilroy
Barrel Filler
Posts:1319
| | 11/08/2003 1:28 AM |
| | damn, tilly, it sounds like the "last working vineyard in the almaden valley" is more of a serious venture than i thought. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15701
| | 11/10/2003 12:37 AM |
| | Let me think on that! | | | |
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Stefania Wine
San Jose, CA
Grape Puncher
Posts:725
| | 11/10/2003 9:43 PM |
| gfleener,
The backyard vineyard is good for 40-50 bottles next year and probably 120-150 after that  But the plan was try it out, see if I had any apptitude and make my mistakes on a small scale before I did it on a bigger scale. I 'stole' some Pinot this year too and tried that out.
As I had some better success with the winemaking this year (no brown, green, or pink wine ), and the Syrah I made is thus far actually damn good, I'm gonna start in with that next year on a bigger scale and buy grapes. Maybe do 200-300 cases. Which qualifies for offical insanity I think.
davidn, really I love being in the vineyard, if you ever need help just let me know. I will work for wine | |
Paul Romero - Owner/Winemaker Stefania Wine
www.stefaniawine.com | |
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gus fleener
gilroy
Barrel Filler
Posts:1319
| | 11/11/2003 4:10 AM |
| tilly,
good for you. i'd love to try your juice sometime. one of these nights when you are downtown for a hockey game, we should get together for a bite & a glass or bottle or 2 of wine. | | | |
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Stefania Wine
San Jose, CA
Grape Puncher
Posts:725
| | 11/12/2003 4:04 PM |
| | Sounds great. Our normal routine is to park on San Pedro and hang out at the bar at Stumps or Spiedo, have a bottle and an appitizer before the game. | |
Paul Romero - Owner/Winemaker Stefania Wine
www.stefaniawine.com | |
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