Winemaker's Notes
2023 Estate Grand Chardonnay
Alcohol 14.5%
$33
SILVER 2024 Foothill Wine Fest (89 points)
White wine lovers will especially enjoy our latest Grand Chardonnay release with its notes of peaches and vanilla on the nose. At first sip you will notice the amazing texture accompanied by the classic taste of butterscotch and toasted almond. This one touches oak but still gives off a refreshing and clean citrus finish. These grapes benefitted from the sharp temperature changes as harvest came around and it did something special for the varietal as the 2023 will be one to stand out for sure! Go ahead and grill that salmon dish and maybe risotto on the side for a wonderful complement to this outstanding Chardonnay!
2023 Grenache
Alcohol 14.2%
$35
SILVER 2025 California State Fair (91 points)
This very approachable wine is the perfect varietal to drink while the sunshine starts to return, and the days become longer. The thin skins of Grenache give this wine a lighter garnet color, with bright fruits of strawberry and cherry flavors coming through with each sip. A well-balanced Grenache doesn’t need a lot of oak to boost its ego, yet through the mellow invite of easy drinking, a complex structure of fruit forward berries opens up to a touch of anise and herbal notes like sage. As our Sierra Foothills climate warms up throughout late spring and approaching summer, our soils start to become dry. This climate gives Grenache the opportunity to thrive, and that is what it does here in Fair Play, with our 2023 as no exception! Take this one to a BBQ with friends and you’ll find it complements the food well. A safe choice as the weather heats up. Don’t be afraid to chill this one down on a warm day!
2020 "Shady Lady" Primitivo
Alcohol 14%
$37
SILVER 2024 California State Fair (88 points)
SILVER 2024 Foothill Wine Fest (87 points)
Our 2020 Shady Lady Primitivo has a medium to bold flavor profile, with deep and dark fruits of plum and black cherry that bounce off your taste buds, but true to Primitivo characteristics you still get that touch of black pepper and minerality! Well balanced in acidity, subtle tannins give this wine a luscious mouth feel. Primitivo originated in Croatia and eventually made its way to Southern Italy. It has an identical genetic make up to the American favorite, Zinfandel, which is likely why it grows so well in the Sierra Foothills. Flourishing and ripening off the warm days and cool nights with roots deep into the soil that it’s no wonder we’ve been working with it for years in this region. While she may be Shady, this is one classy lady, and she dresses to impress. If you could only take one wine with you to the party, this would be the one! Shady Lady pairs well with most tomato-based pasta dishes but wouldn’t disappoint if you went with grilled meats instead. Just like all the ladies, she doesn’t stick around for too long so you might want to grab yourself a second one!