Pipestone Vineyards
2040 Niderer Rd. Paso Robles CA 93446 USA
direct: 805-227-6385 Fax: 805-227-6383
pipestonevineyards.com
Dear Wine Club Members, November 29, 2002
Thank you so much for your support! We must apologize for not getting your shipment out before Thanksgiving; harvest was so drawn-out that we only finished barreling the 2002’s Monday. The long hang-time looks to have made for some very exciting wines . We did get the fruit off just one day before a 6-inch rainstorm!
Before I get too far, we are offering a 30% Discount on any case you order before the 1st of the Year! See the flyer enclosed in your shipment. Stock up for the holidays!!!!
Our family is doing well. Grace, working on 7, is still playing the violin and actually having a great time learning it. She still falls for the “how do you get to Carneige Hall?” joke, and if she ever makes it there I’m going to have to eat some real crow! Gwen, who just turned 4, still has her curly hair and the Peppermint Patty personality (sometimes crossed with Godzilla) to go with it! Florence has been cooking up Wine Grape Jams and Jellies that won several Blue Ribbons at the Mid-State Fair this past August! Who would have ever though that a girl from Hong Kong would be entering her farm raised goodies right along side of the Pioneer Ladies Club?!
For the Fall shipment we have our first ever Late Harvest Viognier, a 100% varietal Grenache, the big Aussie-style Syrah-Cab Blend, our Estate Syrah, and our Reserve Syrah! Quiet a line-up!
The Late Harvest Viognier is our first! We made only enough for one bottle for each club member- there’s nothing left! It’s very sweet and luscious and cries out for a traditional NY cheese cake, but can even stand up to a chocolate torte! Harvested in late November at a huge Brix and literally dripping with sugar, the berries filled the vineyard with a truly heavenly aroma; I hope we’ve managed to bottle some of that for you!
The Grenache is quite special. For me it bursts with red and black cherries and has an underlying spiciness that makes it very interesting. It’s perfect with Holiday ham, spicy food, or pasta with a marinara sauce. The Syrah-Cab Blend is BIG. 50% new oak, dark and deep. We have only a very limited supply (10 cases ea.) left after sending out the club shipments, so call if you want to re-order.
Of course the two Syrahs we have are huge, but still manage to show some elegance. Our sunny south-facing site is definitely the right place to grow this varietal. Both need some time in the bottle to mellow out, but can be enjoyed now in their youth. The Estate Syrah is very dark and has as spicy blackberry, pepper, and smoke flavor. The tannins are still very forward. Serve it with grilled beef, a very hearty stew, maybe sausages or a gourmet pizza with lots of garlic and sun-dried tomatoes. The Reserve Syrah is a very big wine. Selected from the top of the vineyard where the vines are planted right in the bedrock, it was aged in 100% new oak. I can’t think of anything it would go better with other than a thick charred piece of beef, or sip alone in front of the fireplace on a cold winter’s night!
In the vineyard, we have converted
to totally Organic Farming! You know
that fewer than 1% of all farms in America are organic!? We are in the process of planting clover
right in the vine rows to smother the weeds and add natural compost and
nitrogen to our soils. Come to visit in
the spring and the flowers should put on quite a show too!
We wish your families a very happy and safe holiday season. Thank you,
The Pipes Family (Jeff, Florence, Grace & Gwen)
Pipestone Vineyards