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Gorgeous Billy Goat Hill Merlot awaiting a date with the de-stemmer

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Chardonnay Blackjack Ranch Vineyard Reserve 2005 


Chardonnay Blackjack Ranch Vineyard Reserve 2005 This is from the greatest chardonnay vintage we have had yet. Butter and oak are cliches with chard, but in this case they are incorporated into the wine in a uniquely marvelous manner. Parker gave us an 89 on this wine when it was still a barrel sample and naturally I was disappointed. We discontinued pouring this in the tasting room in early spring 2007 because we knew it was improving every day. Now it is velvet chardonnay if there is such a thing. I guarantee you will be glad you at least ordered a sample bottle of this wine. In all likelihood you will want to re-order it. As always, this is our best pairing with food, cheese, etc.
Chardonnay Blackjack Ranch Vineyard Reserve 2005
Bottle $35.00

Chardonnay “21” 2006 


Chardonnay “21” 2006 Its difficult to describe this wine accurately without sounding like a salesperson. Simply put you will not find a deeper, richer, chardonnay in this price range, anywhere. I drank one the other night at Matteis and scored it 94 points. I urge you to load up on this wine. Remember, you know where to find me if you disagree. Parker gave the 2005 version 90 points. Although he has not yet tasted this new release I assure you it is one of the best chardonnay values in the world!!!!
Chardonnay “21” 2006
Bottle $21.00

Chardonnay Wilkening Vineyard Reserve 2006 New Release !!!!!


Just released, the 2006 Reserve Chardonnay from Laura Wilkening's hillside vineyard overlooking Ballard Canyon Road completes our first decade of production of this beautiful fruit. As always, the dominant features are honeysucle, pineapple, and tropical fruit. Well structured and complex, enjoy it over the next 5-6 years.
Chardonnay Wilkening Vineyard Reserve 2006
Bottle $35.00

Chardonnay Wilkening Vineyard Reserve 2005 


Robert Parker 91 Points

Chardonnay Wilkening Vineyard Reserve 2005 I love this version of the Wilkening chardonnay. Actually it ranks up there with the 1997 as one of my all time favorites from this vineyard. Intriguing and fascinating with an atypical steely backbone. Somewhat laid back and destined to peak in 2008. This is an old vine chardonnay planted in 1981 on an east facing slope overlooking Ballard Canyon Road, just southwest of Los Olivos. Multiple layers of honeysuckle, pineapple, movie theater popcorn butter, coconut, papaya, and mango followed by a deep, long, lingering finish. No malolactic fermentation. Most guests score it around 94+ points. 554 cases produced.

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Chardonnay Wilkening Vineyard Reserve 2005
Bottle $38.00

Chardonnay “Black Cap Reserve” 2005 


Robert Parker 91 Points

Chardonnay “Black Cap Reserve” 2005 Probably the single greatest chardonnay we have ever produced. This comes from the very, very special block immediately in front of the winery/tasting room. Clone 76 (Dijon) fruit offers unbelievable concentration and complexity.

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Chardonnay “Black Cap Reserve” 2005
Bottle $55.00

Pinot Noir Alix de Vergy 2004 Arroyo Grande


Robert Parker 90 Points

Quoting Robert Parker: (Highly Recommended) "Deep ruby hued, offering up sweet raspberry and cherry notes as well as good purity, cleanliness,and elegance. It could easily be mistaken for a Burgundy Premier Cru in a blind tasting. Fresh lively acidity is also found in this impressive Pinot." Consume this beauty over the next 8 years. Old vine fruit from the LaColline Vineyard, Arroyo Grande, California.
Pinot Noir Alix de Vergy 2004
Bottle $48.00

Pinot Noir “Alix de Vergy” 2003 Special Selection Reserve 


As we get down to the last few cases, it becomes blatantly obvious that this is probably the greatest Pinot we have every produced. Bring out your $3000/bottle DRC LaTache and drink them side by side. Then ask yourself if you drink labels or wine. Big, thick, chewy, earthy, black fruit pinot noir with Burgundian characteristics. Raspberry, violets, vanilla bean, smoke. Acidity perfect for food. Old-vine fruit, La Colline Vineyard, Arroyo Grande. This is obviously really, really good juice. “Miles” love affair with Pinot Noir could have begun with this wine. Most score this a solid 96 or better. I urge you to try this wine but warn you that you will fall in love with it!
Pinot Noir “Alix de Vergy” 2003 Special Selection Reserve
Bottle $75.00

Double-Down Syrah 2006 NEW RELEASE


A blend of syrah from Saarloos Vineyard and Blackjack Ranch Vineyard. Gobs of red and black fruit combine to make this a deep, intriguing wine. Tastefully and subltely oaked, cedar, black currants and spice. Exuberance with plenty of depth, richness, and subtle complexity make this wine a "best buy". Putting on weight in the bottle and taking on an elegantly pretty velvety texture. This wine has at least a 10 year life ahead of it. Although its a new release, don't delay and be sorry later. Until I change my mind, we will offer this wine at $199 by the case. Discounts will be applied manually when your order is processed.
Double-Down Syrah 2006
Bottle $26.00

Double-Down Syrah 2005 


Double-Down Syrah 2005 Our most popular wine. Preceded by 90+ Robert Parker scores, this crowd pleaser features purplish black color. Rhone like. Incredibly ripe, rich, and bright fruit. Collaboration of blackberries, blueberries, crème de cassis, and violets. Generous wine, juicy, smoky, earthy, jubilant and just plain fun. A hedonistic turn-on at a reasonable price. Beautifully integrated Remond French Oak. We think this may be the most concentrated and rich version of this popular wine so far.
Double-Down Syrah 2005
Bottle $26.00

Harmonie 2001  (“Bordeaux-Blend”) (Robert Parker 91+, Roger 95)


Robert Parker 91+ Points

One of my three favorite vintages of Harmonie, ranking right up there with the 1997 and the 1999. Now with four years in the bottle taking on exotic nuances I never imagined when it was young. 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cab Franc, 4% Merlot, 2% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot. This is truly great stuff. The fruit was grown under perfect conditions. Parker: “Dense color with a complex bouquet of graphite, coffee, black currants, bay leaves, and subtle vanilla. Firm, tannic, and backward, but beautifully rich well-delineated, and structured. This is a wine to put away for 2-3 years and consume over the following 10-15 years.” Dark and complex with extremely ripe black cherry fruit, plush, and harmoniously pure. I consistently score it 95 for its depth and focus. I am going to withdraw this wine soon and retain the remainder for library use only so don't delay if this is one of your favorites.
Harmonie 2001
Bottle $75.00

Harmonie 2002  (“Bordeaux-Blend”) (Robert Parker 92+, Roger 95)


Robert Parker 92+ Points

Orange County Register (CA) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED as wine of the week 6/15/06. One of our best relative values. This wine is 85 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The formula for success in ’02 was low yields. We limited our vines to 1.5 tons per acre early in the growing season in an attempt to capture the old-vine intensity. This strategy paid off handsomely when we harvested 100% fully ripe fruit. Robert Parker, Jr. (Issue 154): “A saturated dense dark color with sweet notes of crème de cassis intermixed with subtle smoke, graphite, licorice, lavender and mint. While deep, full-bodied, ripe and loaded, its high tannin level and structured style dictate cellaring this 2002 for a minimum of 2-3 years (mid-2007). It should last for two decades.”
Harmonie 2002
Bottle $60.00

Harmonie 2003 (“Bordeaux-Blend”) (Robert Parker 93-95+, Roger 97+)


Robert Parker 93-95+ Points

The world's number one auctioneer (in his field) and the president of his firm were coming to Blackjack Ranch to join us for dinner recently. I wanted to be sure they had a memorable evening. In coordinating our dinner plans, the two gentlemen mentioned in passing that they had recently purchased a Screaming Eagle 2002 (Napa, $1200 to $1500 per bottle) and were looking forward to tasting this wine for the first time to see if the wine lived up to the hype, ratings and price tag. I decided to give them a preview of their treasure and treat them to their fantasy wine but from the more highly regarded 2001 vintage. Dinner at Mattei's was fantastic as always and Jeff Nichols prepared a grazing menu that wowed all of us. My guests agreed to taste three red wines blind with our series of dishes. All three were bagged with capsules removed and labeled A, B, and C as were the corresponding glasses. After initial tasting, my guests were told one of the three wines we were drinking was a Screaming Eagle. Their eyes lit up but no one correctly identifed the Screaming Eagle, or was able to pinpoint the appellation of origin of any of the three wines. You probably know where I am headed with this, wines A and C tied for first place with B finishing third. A was my Harmonie 1997 (Robert Parker, 93 points, sold out since 2000). B was the Screaming Eagle 2001 (Robert Parker, 99 points, $1200 to $1500 or more, per bottle). C was my Harmonie 2003, the wine offered here. This tasting once again exposed the subjectivity of scoring by the critics. With friends visiting from Orange County ten days later, the opportunity arose to continue the comparisons. The 100 point Lafite-Rothschild 2003 (now $750 to $900 per bottle) was next on the agenda. On a different night, with different bottles, the results were the same. Every single one of us agreed the 2003 Harmonie was the better wine. It is simply more concentrated, more complex and a more rewarding wine to drink. It would be foolish of me to post the above on my website if it wasn't completely true and if I wasn't challenging you to conduct similar tasting experiments. If you ask yourself why I chose to compare the 1997 and 2003 Harmonie to the 2001 Screaming Eagle rather than the 2001 Harmonie (one of my favorite babies), it is because in 2001 I chose to indulge my own fascination with American Oak and the wine is identifiable by nose. I figured by "surrounding" the vintage of Screaming Eagle, the "average" age would make for a level playing field. In the comparison of 2003 Lafite versus the 2003 Harmonie the oak regiment was equal. After seven patient years on the waiting list, I was finally allowed to purchase Taransaud French oak for the 03 harvest, and Taransaud is my first choice for making great Bordeaux blend elixir. Lafite has been buying their first choice of French oak for a century or two, so in my opinion, the ground rules were fair. After all, the Lafite is known for its finesse and breeding and generally shows well relatively young. To carry this absurdity to yet another level, I suggest comparing the Harmonie 2003 to my single favorite Bordeaux, Chateau Lafleur. Don't be shy, pour the Harmonie 2003 together with the Lafleur 2000 (Robert Parker 100, Lafleur's highest rated wine of the last 25 years). Auction goers currently seem delighted at the opportunity to purchase this wine in the $15,000-$20,000 per case range. Go ahead and enjoy these two wines side by side. The ultimate equalizer in the wine world is cost. If cost were no object, we'd all drink Cheval Blanc 1947 on a daily basis with a little 1990 Romanee-Conti and/or LaTache thrown in from time to time for variety. Rather than actually play the SuperBowl each year, they could just award the championship trophy to the team with the highest ratings. Do you get my point? So there it is, I have thrown down the gauntlet by encouraging you to conduct your own comparisons of Harmonie 2003 to any of the greatest wines of the world from recent vintages. If you do it fairly I think you will see that in my eighth vintage, dedication, creativity, and experience all came together inside a 750 ml bottle. We have packaged it in top-of-the-line French glass with a beautiful commemorative black label in order to convey this belief. If you can afford the world's greatest wines with their current stratospheric prices, the fun of comparing this wine with them should be regarded exactly as that, fun. If you are going to take it personally, please do NOT buy this wine. Robert Parker (Issue 154): “Wisted’s finest achievement with this Bordeaux-blend appears to the 2003 Harmonie, a blend of 85% cabernet and 15% merlot. This riveting effort can stand up against the best Napa/Sonoma proprietary blends. In fact, it sets a new standard of excellence for what can be achieved in the South/Central Coast. A dense purple color is followed by a Medoc-like offering revealing notes of cedar, bay leaves, black currant liqueur, licorice, and new oak. Rich, layered, full-bodied yet elegant, precise, pure, exceptionally well-focused flavors inundate the palate. This beauty requires 3-5 years of cellaring, and should last two decades.” This is the highest score he has ever awarded a Cabernet Sauvignon or blend from the Central Coast. I anticipate the Harmonie 2003 will always be regarded as one of the all-time great Blackjack Ranch wines. But to be perfectly honest, the 2005 and 2006 are looking pretty good in barrel right now too. On a relative basis, this is one of the greatest values you will ever be offered.
Harmonie 2003
Bottle $100.00

Maximus Syrah 2004  (Killer Juice!!)


Maximus Syrah 2004 OUR "SIDEWAYS" WINE. Yes indeed, this is our featured wine in the film “Sideways”. In the continuity of the film, Jack and Miles taste Blackjack Ranch Maximus on “Monday” morning following breakfast in Solvang as their first stop of the day. The tasting begins 30 minutes 16 seconds into the movie. The tasting room host proclaims: “This is our Syrah.” Miles lifts his glass to his nose and exclaims “Oooh!” Jack inquires: “Yeah, you like it?” Miles enthusiastically and emphatically responds: “That’s a BIG one!!!” (Our “Sideways” stills of their tasting are located on the east and west walls of the Tasting Room) The Syrah Maximus exhibits a deep ruby/purple color in addition to subtle, but sweet aromas of barbecue smoke, blackberries, cassis, licorice, saddle leather, and earth. It is a powerful, layered, ripe wine with moderately high tannin as well as admirable purity and persistence. Give it another 12-18 months of bottle age, and enjoy it over the following decade.”
Maximus Syrah 2004
Bottle $55.00

Merlot Billy Goat Hill 2003  


Merlot Billy Goat Hill 2003 A saturated purple color is followed by an extraordinary bouquet of espresso, black fruits, cocoa, dried Provencal herbs and vanilla, an explosive attack, admirable freshness, and impressive concentration as well as thickness. Reminiscent of the 1999 which scored 93+ with Robert Parker. The "comeback" has begun. This now ranks among our three most popular tasting room offerings. Although Miles killed the market for junk merlot, this one comes from the largest hand-cultivated block of vines in Santa Barbara County (5 acres), all tilled and tended strictly by hand on a 40 degree vertical slope (one of the most stunning vineyard visuals on the Central Coast). Because of the steep slope, the soil is thin and the intensity of this wine results from the struggle these vines go through on an annual basis.

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Merlot Billy Goat Hill 2003
Bottle $40.00

Maximus Syrah 2004 Our Famous


Robert Parker 90 Points

Maximus Syrah 2004 An absolute beast. This of course is the wine Miles and Jack tasted in "Sideways" and pronounced it "a big one" (at the 30 minute 16 second mark in the film). Huge hillside syrah, specially selected for our Reserve Syrah. Trust me on this one !! Robert Parker gave it a 15 year life span. On a good day, he would have given it the 94 to 96 point score it deserves. We have now begun pouring this monster in the tasting room and for those guests in this price range, this is a "must buy".

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Maximus Syrah 2004
Bottle $48.00
(Net Item, discounts do not apply)

Pinot Noir Alix de Vergy 2005 


Pinot Noir Alix de Vergy 2005 NEW RELEASE !! Not yet being poured in our tasting room and might not last long enough for that to occur. Our 450 case production of this wine has dwindled to less than 120 cases. IF YOU TRUST ME, ORDER THIS WINE. IT MAY BE THE BEST PINOT WE HAVE EVER PRODUCED. La Colline Vineyard in Arroyo Grande. Yet another extraordinary Reserve Pinot Noir and I highly recommend it. Another beauty of a wine being snapped up by savvy buyers thanks to the Sideways/Miles/Pinot Noir craze.
Pinot Noir Alix de Vergy 2005
Bottle $48.00

Allusion 2005 


Allusion 2005 81 % Cabernet Franc and 19 % Merlot, this is currently one of our most popular wines in the Tasting Room. The Allusion 2005 is amazingly deep, rich and harmonius. At the recent Vintner's Association event, this was widely regarded as the best "Bordeaux-blend" being offered that the festival. Reminiscent of the 2003 which just sold out, this wine just goes on and on and is a truly great value in this price category. I can't believe how nicely this turned out and how exotic it is. I highly recommend trying at least one bottle.
 

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Allusion 2005
Bottle $30.00

Merlot Billy Goat Hill 2005 


Merlot Billy Goat Hill 2005 NEW RELEASE !! We did it again. This is yet another fabulously rich version of our highly regarded Billy Goat Hill Merlot. Upon entering the Blackjack Ranch property the "wall" of vines that serves as a backdrop for the visual portion of our vineyards is Bill Goat Hill. This is Santa Barbara County's largest block of hand cultivated vines. This means no tractors, no sprayers, no plows, discs, chisels, or tillers. We do everything by hand. That means that these are the most catered-to vines around. The wine is deeply concentrated and shows why merlot is one of the most sought after varietals in the world, Sideways or upright.

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Merlot Billy Goat Hill 2005
Bottle $40.00
(Net Item, discounts do not apply)

Harmonie 2005 


Harmonie 2005 This is the wine I have been trying to make since I first broke ground here. I packaged it using the same special commemorative label I used for the 2003 Harmonie. It's at least that good although two years younger. Having built up my allocation of Taransaud barrels (following 7 years on the waiting list for the privilege of paying $1000 for barrels), my inventory for the 2005 vintage was 90 Taransauds and to me they are the ultimate cab barrel. The cab sauvignon for this wine (85 percent of the blend) was picked in 5 separate passes spanning two weeks. No cluster was taken unless I deemed it ready. For complexity and bouquet, the best of the best cab franc from our Suicide Hill was blended in and comprises 15 percent of this wine. The oak blows you away, the ripeness and pure fruit concentration are the result of ten years of experience as a grower and 40 years of vision as a wine lover. You can serve this to anybody, anywhere, anytime. Trust me.
Harmonie 2005
Bottle $90.00

Harmonie 2004  (“Bordeaux-Blend”)


Robert Parker NYR Points

This is currently our most popular tasting room wine as I dramatically under-priced it. It is presently a superstar in the finer steakhouses in Orange County and is drinking beautifully with bone-in rib eyes and porterhouses. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot all shine through. Layer upon layer upon layer of big, bold tarry black and blue fruit. Highly elegant, extraordinary nuances of black cherry extract are highlighted by espresso, black truffles, cassis, blueberries, and the slightest hint of old fashioned black licorice. French oak all the way. Drinking well already, tannins are there but not dominant. The 2004 Harmonie will drink well and be highly enjoyable for 10 to 20 years. When it starts to pick up bottle nuances, look out. Introductory price won't last long.
Harmonie 2004
Bottle $35.00

 

 


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