About Our Wines

2010 Estate Sauvignon Blanc

Vineyard and Vintage Notes:
Our Sauvignon Blanc is planted in a cool hollow, where the vines are sheltered from scorching afternoon sun by an old growth madrone forest. Our first harvest from this block yielded beautiful ripe fruit with balanced acidity and a vibrant floral bouquet. The 2010 vintage was one of the coolest growing seasons in California's winemaking history, and young vines coupled with cool conditions allowed a small crop of high quality fruit to be harvested. Our Sauvignon Blanc is grown alongside a planting of Sauvignon Musque, and these grapes were field blended during the harvest to create a fresh, vibrant wine.

Winemaking Notes:
Extremely cool summer conditions followed by a heat spike the final week of September caused the sugars in our Sauvignon Blanc to jump unexpectedly. The elevated sugars allowed for a small amount of oak to be used in the aging process, complementing the full bodied flavors.

Tasting Notes:
Our Sauvignon Blanc is a unique expression of the vineyard. The nose opens with tingly citrus and floral notes, and the pallet is light and crisp showcasing creamy lemon with a wonderful counterpoint of acidity. The wine closes with a delicate hint of oak to balance the snappy acidity. A lively and unique wine; the perfect complement for a spring day.

2010 Estate Riesling

Vineyard and Vintage Notes:
The 2010 vintage was one of the coolest growing seasons in California's winemaking history, which made our first foray into growing white grapes quite an interesting experiment. Young vines coupled with cool conditions allowed a small crop of high quality fruit to be harvested, showcasing long hang time and well developed acid. We are one the few producers of Estate Riesling in Dry Creek Valley and hope to create a signature style for this unique and versatile wine.

Winemaking Notes:
The grapes were harvested at 23.2 brixs and crushed & soaked on skins for 4 hours to extract rich flavors. The wine was fermented in stainless steel to allow for full expression of the varietal and was stopped just prior to full dryness, giving the wine a full-bodied mouth feel devoid of the syrupy, overly sweet finish that has plagued Riesling's image.

Tasting Notes:
The wine opens with a nose full of cream and bananas highlighted by notes of lime and citrus. The pallet is elegant and full-bodied with wonderful harmony struck between the acidity and sugars, and the finish is smooth and lingering with a slightly sweet tone. Riesling is perhaps the most versatile wine in the world and can be made in dozens of different styles, and our first harvest of Riesling provided a great learning opportunity. The quality of fruit from our young estate vineyard surpassed our expectations, and we look forward to many vintages of this delicious wine.

2010 Estate Rosé of Syrah

Vineyard and Vintage Notes:
The 2010 vintage was one of the coolest growing seasons in California's winemaking history. These cold conditions produced wonderful natural acidity in the grapes. Harvested in mid-October, nearly two weeks later than previous vintages, this Rosé showcases the extended hang time.

Winemaking Notes:
The extremely cool conditions of the 2010 vintage created the unique opportunity for us to produce a larger quantity of Rosé while maintaining our benchmark quality. The high natural acid content of the grapes allowed for this wine to be created with very little manipulation. Crushed and soaked on skins for only four hours this wine was fermented in neutral French oak barrels. Following fermentation the wine was stored in stainless steel and bottled young to capture its vibrant flavors.

Tasting Notes:
This unique Rosé showcases the full bodied flavors of a red wine while maintaining the delicate floral components of a blush. The nose opens with wonderful cherry and rose petal notes painted over an earthy background. The pallet begins with bright zing of acidity complemented by a full bodied intensity that envelope the mouth. The finish is clean and brisk leaving the taster wanting another sip of this delicate wine.

2009 Estate Mountain Cuvée Zinfandel

Vineyard and Vintage Notes:
The 2009 growing season was a marked by a cool summer that transitioned into a hot autumn. These growing conditions created higher than average sugars and fully ripe grapes, and high temperatures in September created optimal timing for the harvest. For once, our Zinfandel grapes allowed us to pick on our schedule rather than on the dictates of Mother Nature.

Winemaking Notes:
The 2009 harvest was our second from the young St. Peters Church vines in our "Old Vineyard" block. Our "Ridge Top" block is a small parcel of sundrenched vines at 1850 feet, the highest elevation vineyard site on the property. Fermented separately and aged in a combination of French and American oak, these blocks were selected for their ability to complement each other's strengths. Powerful and brooding, our "Ridge Top" block was combined with the youthful intensity of our "Old Vineyard" block to create and complex and highly enjoyable wine.

Tasting Notes:
Our Mountain Cuvée blend changes with each vintage to fully capture the vineyard at its peak, and 2009 was no exception. Predominantly zinfandel with a dash of petite sirah, this wine opens with a wonderful nose of clove and spice balanced with an expressive signature of American oak. The pallet begins with bright red fruit and raspberry notes followed by a burly combination of chocolate and toast. The finish is smooth with a light tannic note that ensures a lingering presence on the palate.

2009 Estate Heritage Tree Zinfandel

Vineyard and Vintage Notes:
The 2009 growing season was a marked by a cool summer that transitioned into a hot autumn. These growing conditions allowed for higher than average sugars and fully ripe grapes. High temperatures in September created optimal timing for the harvest. This allowed us to pick the grapes when we wanted to, rather than on the dictates of Mother Nature.

Winemaking Notes:
The 2009 harvest represents our third crush at the estate winery, and many winemakers believe it takes three vintages to learn the particulars of any given vineyard. I think that this old saying is true for our Heritage Tree block. The full developed clusters were a classic blend of raisins and plush dark berries. The mature flavors of this wine allowed for a higher percentage of oak to be used, creating a deep and complex wine.

Tasting Notes:
This 2009 Heritage Tree offering is a classic example of Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel. The nose opens with a spicy display of cinnamon and lush red fruit. The pallet begins with a combination of dark red fruit complemented by notes of clove and all spice. The finish is lengthily with a solid tannic core that hints at this wine's aging potential.

2009 Estate Syrah

Vineyard and Vintage Notes:
In 2009 we continued the experimental vineyard practice started in 2008, allowing a slightly larger crop to hang in the vineyard following our green drop in order to create a dedicated fruit Rosé. Approximately one month prior to our anticipated harvest date we picked the top cluster of each cane for the Rosé, allowing the remaining Syrah clusters to ripen and develop deep flavors over the following month.

Winemaking Notes:
Harvested near the end of October, our Syrah was fully mature and illustrated the complexity that develops with extended hang time. Fermentation was carefully managed in small bins with manual punchdowns and extended maceration. With just under three tons of fruit harvested, this wine was truly “hand-crafted” in every sense of the word.

Tasting Notes:
Made in the lineage of our stellar 2007 Estate Syrah, this wine opens with a nose of violets and sun ripened blueberry painted over a background of leather and nuanced spice. The mid-palate is supple and well structured, with a juiciness that envelopes the mouth yet remains delightfully soft. The finish is long, with well-developed tannins that ensure this wine will cellar for years to come.

2009 Estate Petite Sirah

Vineyard and Vintage Notes:
The 2009 vintage marked the beginning of a new challenge for the vineyard. A cold and wet spring delayed the onset of bud break in many of our vineyards, and these conditions necessitated a later than normal harvest for our Petite Sirah. The extended hang time brought us precariously close to winter rains, but allowed for full development of flavors and an opportunity to harvest at optimum physical maturity.

Winemaking Notes:
Petite Sirah grapes create a dreamy opportunity for winemakers, with steady, low heat fermentations that always seem to finish easily and at moderate alcohols. This wine was no exception, a near perfect fermentation created a clean expression of fruit and tannin. These pure flavors allowed us to experiment with different levels of toasting in the barrel ageing process; by utilizing a slightly higher amount of heavy toasted oak, the tannins were rounded and softened to create a unique expression of our vineyard.

Tasting Notes:
Rich, deep purple in the glass, with aromas of lavender and dark fruit balanced by meaty, earthy undertones. This wine bucks the stereotype of Petite Sirah being all finish and no flavor, and really begins to shine after an hour of decanting, revealing luscious aromas of fruit, cocoa, tobacco and a hint of molasses. The finish is strong but not abrupt, giving you the desired “oomph” of a Petite Sirah without being dry or abrasive. A truly delicious wine that will only get better with time.

2008 Estate Mountain Cuvée Zinfandel

Vineyard and Vintage Notes:
The 2008 growing season was one of the hottest on record.  Record temperatures allowed our vines to produce large quantities of exceptional fruit and helped us to record our largest harvest to date.  The extra heat helped our fruit to develop lush and full bodied flavors.

Winemaking Notes:
The 2008 harvest marked the first harvest of fruit from our young St. Peter's Church plantings in the Old Vineyard Block.  These vines added a youthful, fruit forward intensity to the wine and helped to balance the more mature flavors developing in our Heritage Tree Block.  Aged in a light complement of new oak to aid in harmonizing the flavors, this wine showcases classic Zinfandel lushness while maintaining structure and balance.

Tasting Notes:
This unique blend reflects the terrior of our vineyard.  The nose displays an elegant floral bouquet and the pallet opens with raspberry and cherry highlighted by notes of clove and spice.  The finish is smooth displaying medium bodied soft tannins.  A food friendly wine, our Zinfandel pairs well with tomato based foods and barbeque. 

2008 Estate Syrah

Vineyard and Vintage Notes:
The 2008 vintage followed the trend of the previous year with an extremely hot and dry growing season. 2008 was the first year we decided to enhance our winemaking portfolio by harvesting half of the Syrah vineyard for a Rose. We allowed the strongest Syrah vines to carry the remaining fruit well into October, where it was fully mature at harvest and exhibited wonderful concentration and intensity.

Winemaking Notes:
With only two tons harvested this wine was fermented in small bins. This small lot process allowed for careful monitoring and management of the fermentation, and manual punchdowns were used to extract the ideal amount of tannin. This wine was truly “hand-crafted.”

Tasting Notes:
The nose opens with classic Syrah qualities of plush dark fruit tempered with hints of leather. The pallet is full bodied and displays blueberry and chocolate with a complement of round oak and hints of vanilla. The lengthy finish exhibits balanced tannins that will allow this wine to age gracefully for years to come.

2008 Estate Petite Sirah

Vineyard and Vintage Notes:
The 2008 vintage followed in the trend of the previous year with an extremely hot and dry growing season. This allowed the vines to produce concentrated and intense fruit and ensured full and ripe flavors. The heat also produced a huge number of wild fires in Mendocino County, which impacted this fruit differently than any other in our vineyard.

Winemaking Notes:
The lush, beautiful fruit was picked at optimum maturity in early October. After a remarkably hassle-free fermentation the wine was pressed and stored in a combination of French and American oak to enhance its tannin structure and dark fruit intensity.

Tasting Notes:
As is characteristic of many wines from this vintage, our Petite Sirah has developed an unusual smoky quality on the nose. Although not unpleasant this smokiness masks the layers of oak and fruit usually exhibited by our petites. The pallet shows dark fruit and a full bodied and tannic finish which should age well.

2007 Estate Zinfandel

Vineyard & Vintage Notes
The Heritage Tree block is comprised of a special field selection called St. Peter's Church, known for producing small berries and uniform ripening.  Soils are very well drained of red, gravelly loam. 

Winemaking Notes
The grapes were harvested on September 8, 2007 at 27.6 bricks, yielding approximately 2½ tons per acre.   After destemming and being cold soaked for five days, a long, slow fermentation began, which was not fully complete until February 2008.  This Zinfandel showcases a blend of French and American oak, of which 30% was new.  It was blended with 8% Petite Sirah.  The wine spent 17 months in barrel and was bottled on February 12, 2009.

Tasting Notes
This highly acclaimed Zinfandel is elegant, briary and alluring, with sweet oak, subtle yet defined tannins and an extra long finish. This wine stands up to full bodied meat dishes and rich tomato-based pastas, and pairs exceptionally well with chocolate. The 2007 Zinfandel is perhaps our finest effort from Gustafson Family Vineyards, a true embodiment of the style & quality we strive to consistently produce.

Wine Enthusiast Rating:
"Dry, soft and a little hot, it shows massive blackberry tart, black cherry pie, blueberry jam, chocolate, anise, pepper and Indian spice flavors. Almost Port-like, but never loses essential control, and a fine example of Dry Creek." – W.E. (9/1/10) 92 Points

2007 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Vineyard and Vintage Notes:
2007 was our first year of full estate production at Gustafson Family Vineyards. Coincidentally, 2007 was also one of the best growing seasons California has seen in almost a decade. Our 3 year old Cabernet vines produced a small batch of extremely flavorful and concentrated fruit. Low yields permitted for an early harvest, allowing the fruit to maintain bright natural acidity and contributing to this wine’s excellent structure and balance.

Winemaking Notes:
With only a small quantity of fruit to work with this wine was fermented in individual one-ton bins, a micro-process that allowed for remarkable tannin extraction without the loss of ripe fruit character. Aged for two years in French oak, this wine demonstrates classic integration of layered complexity and structure.

Tasting Notes:
The nose opens with lush dark fruit and complex layers of oak lightly touched with cinnamon and vanilla. The pallet displays full bodied fruit and classic blackberry notes. The finish is concentrated oak with rounded tannins, ensuring that this wine will cellar for years to come.

Wine Enthusiast Rating:
“This rich, fruity Cabernet comes from one of the higher mountain regions in Dry Creek Valley. It’s enormously concentrated in blackberry, black currant and oak flavors, with the briary, peppery note so often found in Dry Creek reds. Good, if a little rustic. Give it three or four years...” - W.E. (9/1/2010) 90 Points

2007 Estate Petite Sirah

Vineyard and Vintage Notes:
The East Ridge vineyard block sits on uniformly gravelly soil in a protected northeast facing slope.  Situated at 1770 feet this block receives cool morning sunshine which allows the fruit to develop intense flavor without the loss of natural acidity.  The 2007 vintage was the best in recent memory for Dry Creek Valley and this fruit was no exception.

Winemaking Notes:
Harvested early and at an almost perfect 4 tons per acre yield, this fruit was majestic when it came into the winery.  To aid in proper tannin extraction and flavor development this wine was fermented in an open top tank with manual punch downs.  Aged for 18 months to integrate the full fruit flavors with toasted oak the wine shows elegant structure and balance.

Tasting Notes:
The nose is greeted with aromas of mint and chocolate highlighted with subtle oak and leather.  The pallet opens with dark fruit and moves into a lush blueberry intensity that balances perfectly with the acidity displayed across the mid-pallet.  The finish is smooth and long with excellent tannic structure, making this wine as classic Petite Sirah. This wine truly represents the terrain and is a classic example of the wine being made in our vineyard.

Wine Enthusiast Rating:
"Shows considerable tannins and fresh acidity, with compact flavors of wild black and blue berries, licorice, currants and peppery spices, finished with a flourish of dark chocolate. A very fine wine..." - W.E. (9/1/10) 92 Points, Cellar Selection

 

 

Hours:

Tasting Room open on Saturdays 10 – 4. Other hours available by appointment, please call 707-433-2371.