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With over 18 acres, our Syrah block on our vineyard is often used in our Rhone-style blends, but is delicious as a single varietal. On our vineyard, we practice sustainable farming and believe that attention to the soil’s health is critical to growing great wines. The fruit was machine harvested, destemmed, and crushed to fermenters. Untoasted French oak fermentation ‘rice’ was added to assist color and flavor extraction. The wine was fermented for 11 days on skins to ensure complete extraction of sugars and anthocyanins. When pressed off the skins, the wine was stored to ferment in tank with French oak adjuncts for over 6 months, added to enhance flavor and complexity. Download Tasting Notes -
This wine is a native variety of Spain where it forms the backbone of the famous Rioja region in the north of the country. It is also grown in Portugal where it is known as Tinta Roriz and is utilised as one of the predominant varieties used in the production of Port. It’s name is a derivative of early in Spanish and it reflects its early ripening capabilities. Broken Earth had some of the very early plantings of this variety in Paso and, although it was a tiny block, it encouraged us to plant much more in 2016. Block 5J is 15.09 acres of Clone 770 planted on 10’ x 5’ spacings and utilising simple vertical shoot position (VSP) for canopy management. It is an active growing variety, as mentioned has the benefit of ripening earlier and provides a plush, ‘fleshy’ palate but with ample tannins to balance the fruit. The wine is quite aromatic and warrants a more obvious oak regime which utilises mostly new and some used barrels, with a mixture of French and Hybrid (French oak heads and American oak staves). Harvested at 24.5 Brix, and following a cool ferment, it spent 15 months in oak. The result is a wine that immediately captures your attention. Download Tasting Notes -
Fully opaque, but filled with violets and deep ruby reds, this 2019 Merlot ferments at 27.0 Brix on skins for 19 days at 64°F. Maturation followed in French and American Hybrid oak barriques for 5 months. The gorgeous color is only a precursor to the delectable smell; hints of coffee and toffee, bitter dark chocolate and spices of nutmeg and vanilla, ending with an aftertaste of black licorice. The mouthfeel is richly textured and tannic, which salivates the mouth. Download Tasting Notes -
Our Albariño vines are over 20 years old and grow on a quad trellising system that can be susceptible to sunburn. With this in mind, the harvest date needs to be very specific; if not, the grapes can either have little flavor or be too soft skinned if the pick date is missed by only a few days. These grapes were in excellent condition when harvested, offering a balance of ripeness and retaining freshness. Our Albariño was our first grape of the season to be harvested early in the morning of September 10, 2019. The brix level was 23 at the time of harvest, with about 3.1 tons per acre. The fruit was pressed right away using our inert press system. This press ensures that little to no oxygen comes into contact with the juice, resulting in a brighter, fresher product. After pressing, the pH came in rather high at 3.70. So an acid addition was made to lower the overall pH. The Albariño finished cold fermentation on October 28, 2019 with a very slow fermentation rate. This is due to the Albariño needing to be racked and fermented very clean, so this wine required lots of settling. The wine was heat stabilized, cold stabilized, and filtered right before bottling in February 2020. The wine presents clear with straw hues, youthful in age with plus acidity. With low acidity, this is a drink-now wine for a warm summer’s day. Download Tasting Notes -
It is considered that Vermentino found its origins in Italy, confirmed recently by DNA Typing. It is prevalent in the region of Liguria but has gained much prominence on the island of Sardinia and, more recently, Tuscany. Vermentino has started to emerge in new world producers from Australia and California. The variety’s ability to adapt to a range of climates has great appeal and it certainly has found a home in the Paso Robles region. Our Estate Vermentino Block 3F was planted in 2012 and the 5.02 acres has 10’ x 5’ spacings and utilizes a simple vertical shoot positioning (VSP) canopy. The variety enjoys the warmth of the region and typically ripens early, usually producing wines around 13 – 13.5% alcohol. The 2020 Vermentino was harvested at 24.1 Brix and underwent an extended ferment at a controlled, quite low temperature of 60°F. The cooler ferment guarantees the retention of the more subtle aromas and flavours that are typically absent in warmer conditions in the cellar. This wine has exhibited the greatest depth and complexity so far and it’s amazing texture shows how versatile the variety can be. The wine is produced using reductive techniques, employing the only totally inert gas membrane press in the USA at the time. Oak is not used to ensure freshness is maintained and the fruit harmony is not disrupted. The release of this wine has been met with great acclaim, including a 93 point (and Editor’s Choice) rating in Wine Enthusiast. A great drink on its own, it also pairs wonderfully with many types of food. For those who enjoy sardines, this is a real surprise. Download Tasting Notes -
Viognier is a grape variety most famous for Condrieu wines in the Rhone Valley region of France. It has, however, emerged as a favourite in new world areas in Australia and California. The origins are obscure with the suggestion that it originated in Croatia (known as Dalmatia earlier) and was brought to the Rhone region by the Romans. It is an interesting variety in that it requires warmth to ripen optimally as it ripens slowly but too much heat (without proper canopy management) can result in high sugar levels (and consequent high alcohol) without enough supporting flavour. Our Estate Viognier was planted in the 1990’s and Block 1B-S is 10.90 acres and utilizes 12’ x 7’ spacings utilizing an older type quadrilateral trellis system. California can be tough on crops and Block 1B-S is coming to the end of its time. We are, however, developing a new block on fresh soil on the same property with a higher elevation and more beneficial aspect. The 2020 Viognier was harvested at 24.4 Brix and, as is the case with all our whites, underwent and cool extended ferment. Typically California Viognier is rich but soft, almost projecting an oily texture. Our reductive handling and colder approach maintains many subtle characters that warmer ferments disperse during the process. Hints of green melon, freshly ground coconut and green apple accompany the more typical ripe apricot characters. Due to its susceptibility to oxygen, our approach results in a wine that retains freshness while still showing complexity and length of flavour. This is a wine for all seasons. Download Tasting Notes -
The grapes for this wine were quite ripe and immediately crushed, pressed and sent to be settled. Following cold settling, the clear juice was racked and transferred to stainless steel tanks for fermentation. The pH was adjusted to allow for optimal fermentation conditions and yeast was introduced. The cold fermentation was allowed to soak for 23 days at 52°F. This fermentation allows the wine to retain freshness while maximizing the depth and complexity of barrel maturation. Maturation completed in second and third use French oak barriques for 10 months. This parcel was left on lees until the final blend was decided. Download Tasting Notes -
The base wine was produced from the same grapes as our 2018 Limited Release Verdelho. The fruit washand picked to ensure it retains freshness (no split berries). Processed first thing in the morning through the new Diemme Velvet 80 Press utilizing the N2 inert gas system. This ensures that little to no oxygen comes in contact with the juice, resulting in brighter, fresher product. Hard pressings were included with the free run to add textural depth. Ferment was complete on 10/19/18, lasting 35 days. Post ferment, the wine was left on gross lees for 26 days prior to the addition of a tiny amount of sulfur dioxide. Storage was at 58F in closed stainless steel. The fermented wine was then cold stabilized and heat stabilized. Most of the base wine was then bottled for limited release while the rest was put through Méthode Champenoise. This is the process used to create the famous wines of the Champagne region in France. A ‘base’ wine is created prior to being transferred to the bottles where the secondary fermentation occurs. Sugar and specialized yeast are then added, the bottle is capped (crown seal) and fermentation occurs,whereby generating more alcohol but more importantly CO2. The wine is then topped to the required level with the liqueur d’expedition before the cork is inserted and the wire hood attached. Download Tasting Notes -
This variety, has a fascinating history. Believed to originate from Portugal where it is still grown, it was the most widely planted grape on the small island of Madeira, known mostly for its fortified wine. In the 1970’s it was ‘adopted’ by a number of Australian producers (from a number of different regions across the country) and allowed to ripen fully to produce very appealing white table wines. Its presence in California was first with the Sierra Foothills and has gradually spread its reach. The variety’s ability to ripen early and handle warmer conditions make it an ideal competitor to many distinctive white wine styles from around the world (NZ Sauvignon Blanc for example). Our Estate Verdelho, planted in 2012 on 1103P rootstock and Clone 2 grafted consists of 4.78 acres utilising 10’ x 5’ spacings and a simple vertical shoot positioning (VSP) trellising system. The berries are relatively thick skinned, it is disease resistant and ripens early (typically the first harvested), a dream for the vineyard team. The most remarkable feature of Verdelho grapes is how bright green the juice looks. Our reductive approach and completely inert membrane press allows us to maintain that freshness through to bottle. The 2020 was harvested at 24.0 Brix and underwent a cool (54oF) ferment for 27 days. During the ferment, its characteristic floral and lime aromas emerge, really setting the scene for the rest of harvest, there is nothing quite like the smell of fermenting juice. Interestingly, the finished wine seems quite closed on the nose with only hints of fruit but literally explodes with flavour on the palate. Download Tasting Notes -
The unique climate of our Paso Robles vineyard allows us to ripen all of the Rhône varieties that go into this blend to perfection. This CdR is our expression of blends from the famous region of the Rhone Valley in France. CdR is a blend of four varieties: Petite Sirah (53%), Syrah (22%), Grenache (16%) and Viognier (9%). Viognier is, of course, a white variety but the grapes are co-fermented with Syrah to greatly enhance texture and mouth-feel in the wine. Breathe in deeply the luscious floral bouquet and spices, both handed down by Petite Sirah and Syrah. The Grenache lends Bing cherry and red fruit flavors on the palate while the Viognier adds to the acidity and melds well with the supple tannins. The oak offers a subtle vanilla spice while the toast from the barrel adds caramel characteristics for you to enjoy at the end and even after the wine is gone. Download Tasting Notes -
The Viognier and Syrah fruit were harvested together, destemmed and crushed to fermenters in order to co-ferment rather than be blended later. Untoasted French oak fermentation “rice” was added to assist in color and flavor extraction. The ferment was completed after 14 days. Each fermenter received 2 “pump-overs” each day, a process that circulates fermentation juice over the skins to ensure complete extraction of sugars and anthocyanins. The fermented grapes were pressed off the skins and the wine left to settle. Oak adjuncts, rather than barrels, best enhance the savory-like characteristics of this style. The choice was Suber Laffort “dominoes,” heavy toasted French oak and added from April to July of 2017. This wine has smoky and dark fruit aromas with a gentle low-tannic mouthfeel and a soft finish, highlighting on notes of cherry, coffee, and chocolate. Pair this wine with meats like fried bacon or roast pork with a blackberry glaze. Download Tasting Notes -
Broken Earth produces a number of Rhone style blends and our estate Syrah block is a critical component of each of them. Typically, a parcel of Viognier fruit is “co-fermented”with Syrah to add both texture, fruit and assist with color stability. This ferment is normally around 12-15% Viognier but is diluted to less than 3% in the final Rhone blends. However, the winemaker recognized a great opportunity as the ferment was being pressed to present something special to our Wine Club members. A small volume was retained and bottled separately. Download Tasting Notes
