February 15 - 18, 2008
The 16 Far Out Wineries of Paso Robles are partnering with the Wellness Community of the Central Coast for a fundraiser to help find “Hope and Support” for people with cancer and their families.
Your Passport includes: Sample
award-winning wines and enjoy VIP treatment as you travel through the
Far Out Wine Country of Paso Robles. Activities planned exclusively for
Passport holders include complimentary wine tasting at each winery,
special barrel tasting, winery tours, new releases, food pairings and
much more...
For
your $25 donation you will receive a VIP Passport and a stamp at each
winery you visit. After visiting 8 tasting rooms you will be entered
into a final drawing for some terrific prizes! In addition ... 5% of
the weekend sales will be donated to the Wellness Community!
Advance passports will be available at a discounted price by contacting Judy at Norman Vineyards (805) 237-0138.

A sit down seminar featuring zinfandel and more! Saturday, March 15th, 2008 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM • at Calcareous Vineyards
Calling
all Zinfandel fans. This is your opportunity to taste wines from all 16
Far Out Wineries in one great location and perhaps learn a thing or
two! The winemakers or proprietors will form a panel to present,
seminar style, a wide range of Zinfandels. Hear straight from the
source the winemaking principals used in crafting and farming your
favorite varietal. Determine for yourself what styles you tend to favor
and re-affirm why you just can’t get enough Zinfandel! COST: $55 per person RSVP: Judy at (805) 237-0138 Make your reservations early THIS EVENT WILL SELL OUT!
Awards
For Our Wine
2005
Private Reserve Zinfandel
Gold
Medal Orange County Fair
2005
Vin De Casa
Silver
Medal Orange County Fair
2003
Estate Zinfandel
Gold
Medal Orange County Fair
2004
Vin De Casa
Silver
Medal Orange County Fair
2004
Private Reserve Cabernet Franc
Silver
Medal Orange Country Fair
2004
Estate Chardonnay
Bronze
Medal Orange County Fair
2003
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Bronze
Medal Orange County Fair
2003
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
87
Points Wine Enthusist Magazine
Cabernet
Sauvignon Paso Robles Westside 2001 - 88 pts from the Wine Spectator
Focused,
with fine intensity and concentration on black currant, black cherry and
violet character, with roasted herb tones, minerals and generous cedary
oak framed by solid structure. Drink now through 2009.
Dunning
Vineyards Syrah 2002 - 87 pts from Parker's Wine Advocate
The
reasonably priced 2002 offers Syrah character (blackberries, cassis, earth,
and licorice), medium body, supple tannin, and a generous mouthfeel. Drink
it over the next 3-4 years.
September,
2002: Dunning Vineyards 2000 Select Ranches Zinfandel won a Silver
medal at the Orange county fair.
June
2001: Dunning Vineyards 1999 Estate Cabernet Sauvinon won a silver
medal at the Orange County Fair in the $24 and up category.
March,
2001: Dunning Vineyards 1999 "Select Ranches" Zinfandel Paso Robles Westside
has won a Silver Medal at Jerry D. Mead's New World International Wine
Competition.
Harvest
2004 Report
The
2004 growing season gave us a mix of great and unusual weather. Spring
was a little warmer than normal on the Westside of the Paso Robles appellation..
At the highest elevation (1500 feet) our
mountainside vineyards had an early bud break with the new shoots getting
a fast start in the spring. We are cooler on the Westside and a warm spring
can give the grapes a longer hang time. But if the weather turns cold again
you can have a burn back and the new flower cluster can be damaged. Mother
Nature
decided to "Shake us up Again" just as we were recovering from the Earth
Quake of December 2003. Cold weather in late April did some natural crop
thinning for us. May produced a normal weather pattern and the crop looked
well balanced.
The
summer was cooler than normal and the natural acidity in the grapes remained
high. As the end of August came we got a hot spell for a few weeks and
this helped to push the sugars up in the grapes and we ended up with very
ripe, full flavored fruit with great acid balance!
In
late October a large rain storm hit but thankfully we had harvested the
last of our Estate Cabernet Sauvignon just one day before! The 2004 vintage
will be one of our best to date!
Tasting
notes on our the new wines currently in barrel:
Our
Estate White
2004
Estate Chardonnay
A
small crop, due to the growing season, the Chardonnay has nicely concentrated
fruit flavors and well-balanced acid in the juice.
The
wine was barrel fermented in 100% French oak with 45% new barrels.
The
wine completed 100% malolatic and the yeast lees are stirred bi-weekly
to add creaminess to the finish. We will bottle a limited 425 cases in
the fall.
Our
Estate Reds
2004
Estate Merlot
The
warm spell in September really pushed up the sugar levels with great fruit
and balanced acidity. We fermented all the grapes in small lots and the
wine is currently in barrel. Early tastings show ripe fruit and great structure.
Estimated production 245 cases.
2004
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
The
Cabernet hang time on the vine was as long as possible this year and we
believe this will pay off with a fuller mouthful and rounder flavors. We
also used more of new French oak to add rich tannins and toasty vanillin
in the finish. A recent barrel tasting in January 2005 shows the wine is
well balanced with forward fruit and great acidity. An estimated production
of 425 cases.
2004
Estate Zinfandel
The
Zinfandel sugar at harvest was 26-29 brix with only a few raisins and the
wine is incredibly rich and dark. Flavors of Raspberries, currants and
spice are showing through and our 2004 Estate Zinfandel will be a great
wine. Very limited production of 350 cases.
2004
Estate Syrah
With
our Syrah, we are looking to bring out the full spectrum of Syrah fruit
and our vines are now five years old. We harvested the fruit at 27 brix
and the resulting wine is big, dark and very well structured. This will
be a Big-style Syrah with that great Westside balance between fruit and
acid. We plan on aging this wine a little longer in barrel for 18-22 months
and with about 35% new French oak Very limited production of 275 cases.
Archived
Harvest Reports:
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