Our Wines

Notes describing a wine or wines are often more about the writer than the wine. Thus, anything we write must be assumed to contain our personal bias as well as some wishful thinking, or more correctly, wishful projections of what we would like the wines to be. As we set out to make these, our first two wines, we hoped that by treating the grapes, must and finished wine in exactly the same way, the two vineyards would each have their own unique expression and personality. We believe we have achieved this, but you the drinker should be the judge.

  • 2016 Bentrock is naturally a more powerful and rich wine yet is not heavy. Adjectives are dangerous things but if we see Francesca as linear and elegant we can say that Bentrock is explosive, fuller in the mouth but finishes in the same place. Bentrock has a stone fruit personality dominated by ripe peaches and apricots along with a wonderful backbone of acidity that supports and transports these flavors in the mouth. It too is delicious today but should show its full potential in four to six years and perhaps even longer (2021-2024). (SOLD OUT) READ REVIEWS >>
  • 2016 Francesca has what we call a “cool” profile that is dominated by a flinty nose followed by white flowers. Its attack is subtle but builds, fills the mouth and is linear in nature. The wine’s natural salinity awakens your taste buds and one can imagine this with hard cheeses or with a main dish such as seared scallops. The wine is delicious today, but we expect it will show its full potential in three to five years (2021-2023). (SOLD OUT) READ REVIEWS >>=
  • Our 2017 Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay has an exuberant nature, reflecting the vintage, but also salinity and a mineral foundation that balances its natural exuberance. The wine is delicious now and but will gain complexity over the next five years. (SOLD OUT) READ REVIEWS >>
  • 2018 Bentrock Pinot Noirs has the rich nose of the Cote de Nuits with the black briary fruit one finds in the wines of Morey-St. Denis and the 1er Crus on the north side of Gevrey-Chambertin such as Combe au Moine and Les Cazetiers. Its mouth feel, really the texture of the wine, is complex and sophisticated giving the wine a long finish. It will be at its best in 4-6 years. (SOLD OUT) READ REVIEWS >>
  • 2018 Francesca Pinot Noirs’ nose is clean as fresh ripe raspberries jump from the glass. It is of medium weight in the mouth and reminds Alex of a 1er Cru from Beaune, such as a Clos des Mouches or a Vignes Franches. Its distinct mineral mouth feel, not heavy nor light, has the texture one finds in wines grown in the limestone of Burgundy. It will be at its best in 2-4 years. (SOLD OUT) READ REVIEWS >>
  • 2018 Bentrock Chardonnay Bentrock’s personality bursts forth in 2018 once again with stone fruits: peaches, apricots and supported by a wonderful backbone of acidity that makes the wine last for several moments in the mouth. It is delicious today but should show its full potential in four to six years (2025-2027). (SOLD OUT) READ REVIEWS >>
  • 2018 Francesca Chardonnay We have described our Francesca as having a “cool” profile, due to the vineyard’s position at the western extremity of the Santa Rita Hills. Once again, the wine is dominated by a flinty nose followed by a lemon/lime zest. Its attack is subtle but builds, filling the mouth, while the wine’s natural salinity awakens your taste buds. The wine is delicious today, but we expect it will show its full potential in two to five years (2023-2026). (SOLD OUT)

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