The fruit for this wine was grown in our home vineyard, resting at 1,400 feet in the foothills of California’s Santa Cruz Mountains above Los Gatos. Planted in 1999, this sloping one-acre vineyard site produced just less than three and a half tons of fruit for the 2009 harvest. The grapes were hand harvested early in the morning and transported directly to the winery. They were then immediately whole cluster pressed and fermented and aged in French oak barrels.

The 2009 Jenkins Vineyard Chardonnay opens up with rich, ripe tropical fruits. These aromas are enhanced by those of nectar-filled apple blossoms, melon, pineapple and vanilla. On the palate you’ll discover an abundance of pear, green apple and vanilla with undertones of sweet oak, cedar and cinnamon. Although this Chardonnay boasts rich creaminess, it has a succulent and vibrant finish showcasing its minerality and lemon curd flavors. – GJ

$40 per bottle

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We are very excited about the Syrah grapes from John Madden's Livermore Valley vineyard. John and Peggy are fellow ABC sports commentators, and during a lunch in New York City, John learned we wanted to produce Syrah.  He graciously offered us grapes from his family vineyard and we were happy to accept!

Madden Ranch has 20 acres of Concannon clone Syrah—one of the oldest Syrah clones in California—all on 5BB rootstock.

Grapes were harvested on September 30, 2008 and were taken to our winery where a 3 day cold soak was followed by yeast inoculation. The wine was aged in 75% French oak and 25% American oak for 18 months before bottling.

Our 2008 Madden Ranch Syrah releases its fresh aromas of red cherry, blueberry, plum and roasted coffee from the glass. At first sip, the Syrah has a myriad of juicy red and black fruits that fill the palate with intricate supporting flavors of chocolate, licorice, mushroom and nutmeg. This fruit-forward wine finishes with the lingering richness of plum and cherry and spicy notes of vanilla and cinnamon — GJ

$40 per bottle

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The grapes were sourced from a sunny hillside vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Los Gatos. The Syrah was gently barrel aged for 25 months in a mix of French and American oak to provide excellent structure and balance. This is an outstanding wine that showcases its coastal climate heritage.

The 2008 Santa Cruz Mountains Syrah reveals enticing aromas of blackberry, lush ripe plum, cedar and coffee with touches of white pepper and freshly turned soil. A rich offering of blackberry, blueberry, mocha and cinnamon flavors surround the robust tannins in this chewy wine and lead into a wonderful tart cherry-jam finish. This wine will evolve and age beautifully over the next five to seven years. — GJ

$40 per bottle

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Choreography represents our role of setting the stage for our vines and grapes to achieve their highest expression in the vineyards and at the winery. The grapes for this wine come from two vineyards in the Napa Valley that are managed by the Nord family, a family with a distinguished tradition in Napa Valley winegrowing. Choreography is a blend of five classic Bordeaux varietals --- 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 9% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot.

The 2007 Choreography, with its deep garnet hue, releases a complex bouquet focused on cherry, blueberry and cranberry, with side notes of fresh roasted coffee, cedar and vanilla. On the palate, the flavors expand upon the aromas - dark sweet fruits, smoky oak, vanilla, coffee and a touch of cocoa. The velvety, sultry mouthfeel, with its gentle acidity and ripe tannins, sets the stage for the gradually subsiding rich finish – GJ

$50 per bottle

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Victories is a wonderful dry California Rosé with ripe fresh fruit aromas and flavors, and was created to raise funds for breast cancer research and awareness. Since the 2004 vintage we have donated over $45,000 to charities supporting the cause, an average of $2 per bottle sold.

Our 2010 Victories Rosé reveals interlacing aromas of pineapple, raspberry, coconut, vanilla and cherry blossoms. This dry Rosé is both complex and smoothly textured, showcasing flavors of ripe plum, strawberry and cherry. While the fruit flavors linger with a dash of spice, the balanced acidity keeps its finish crisp and refreshing with hints of lemon zest. – GJ

$20 per bottle

Click here to download winemaker notes (Adobe PDF format)