Au revoir les enfants (Reservoir Dogs)

Good Afternoon,  

A friendly reminder: Wine Club shopping carts are active and the offer is out. Please double check your inbox if you are on the list. In addition to the regular allocation, we are offing a 2013 Adams Ranch Syrah and a few other gems from previous vintages. 

The 2016 Adams Ranch Syrah is sold out but there is a small stash of 2016 James Berry Vineyard Grenache remaining. Only allocation and mailing list members get this offer. We will be sending this offer to our (much larger) general email list Friday. 

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In other news...

Like much of the country, we here in the Willow Creek District are experiencing an extreme winter and lots of precipitation. The approximate average rainfall for Templeton is around 20 inches and we have currently received over 35 inches.

The reservoirs are filling up and wilflowers are starting to peek out of the lush grassy landscape. It's going to be a great year for wildflowers! Next week, after a few days of sunshine, I will post a bunch of wildflower photos.

As for now, I've got our baby cuttings trimmed up and the 1year olds are full of roots and ready to transfer into the vineyards. The Bunkhouse Block will undergo a fun transition, as we inter-plant a "field blend" of vines into what was previously entirely Syrah. The Bunkhouse will contain Syrah, Grenache, Cinsaut, Counoise and Roussanne with the intention of picking it together and co-fermenting the harvest. Exciting!

The vineyard block breakdown at the Ranch looks like this:

LEDGE BLOCK - Cordon trained (8'x3' spacing) Estrella clone Syrah, Massale propogated from the Bone Rock terraces at James Berry Vineyard. Deep sand and clay.
METER BY METER - Cane pruned and tightly spaced (4'x3') Estrella clone Syrah, propogated from  the Ledge Block. Heavy clay over a sandstone shelf.
THE FIN- Head trained at 10'x10', multiple clones of Grenache including 362 (France), 814 (Spain) and the Alban selection. Terra Rosa, sandstone and clay.
ORCHARD BLOCK- Head trained at 10'x10', mostly Spanish Garnacha (814) on sandy clay loam.  
LAKE BLOCK - Head trained at 10'x8', Grenach interplanted with Roussanne in heavy standstone gravel, rolled stones, sand and clay.
BUNKHOUSE BLOCK - Guyot trained at 8'x4', Syrah clones 7 and 747, Cinsaut, Counoise and Roussanne. Clay loam, rocky sandstone and sand. 
CINSAUT BLOCK -  Widely spaced (11'x11') head trained Cinsaut in sandy clay loam.



Above: Adams Ranch Vineyard Grenache in the Fin and Orchard Blocks.

Below: Part of our vine nursery including Syrah, Grenache, Counoise, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc.


 

Mar 6, 2019 at 11:11 PM Permalink

I Shall Be Released

They say everything can be replaced. They say every distance is not near.

Ummm.

You know what cannot be replaced? The last rare bottles of wine from Ledge Vineyards' current wine offer. It's in your email right now if you are in the know.

You know what distance is not near? The breathtaking beauty of an Idaho River Adventure. Read on, Squire!

Today we sent out our bi-annual wine allocation email, which includes the last of the JBV Grenache Blend (97 pts) and some rare Adams Ranch Vineyard Syrah as well as a few other nuggets (including two new releases).  Our Wine Allocation list gets first dibs, mailing list gets second dibs, lurkers get no dibs. NO DIBS FOR LURKERS. 

As far as the Idaho River Adventures guided tour, this is a 6 day guided tour down the middle fork of the Salmon River in Idaho, complete with a friendly staff who set up camp, cook the meals and take you to some of the best fly fishing and rafting spots on earth. Also included is live entertainment every night and rare wines from Ledge Vineyards.

I'm stoked to be attending and look forward to hanging out with some of you on this adventure!

Want a Wine Allocation? email: info@ledgevineyards.com

Interested in the Idaho River Adventure? https://www.idahoriveradventures.com/book-now

Both the select wines and the (limited) seats on the trip will sell out.

Act Fast! Join the fun! Get back into life! Captain my Captain! Odelay! Órale! What would you do for a Klondike bar?

Until next week, Earthlings.

MCA

Feb 27, 2019 at 6:00 PM Permalink

I'm Gonna Live Till I Die

Hello Again,

I’m hustlin’ out here in Detroit this week and am honored to be on a very distinguished panel at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for a series called “Uncorked”.  

The moderator is NYC based music expert and sommelier Ronald Merlino and my panel mate is Grammy Award winning bassist John Clayton. 

Ronald Merlino represents talented conductors from all over the world and is equally passionate about wines and music of every variety. 

As for John Clayton, his is a sprawling CV which includes a Grammy win for his work with Queen Latifah as well as a nomination for best Jazz Instrumental Album with The Clayton Brothers. He has worked with Count Basie, Henry Mancini, Quincy Jones, Whitney Houston and many more. 

As for my participation, I will be discussing the parallels between musical improvisation and Viticulture, a topic which I feel surprisingly confident to tackle. There are SO many parralels between winemaking, farming and music. 

In short, I am totally pumped for this discussion and look forward to following the inspiring career of John Clayton as well as speaking on future panels with Ron Merlino as he expands these seminars to orchestras throughout the world. 

As for the wine, we will be pouring:

2017 G2 Vineyard Grenache Blanc 
2017 James Berry Vineyard Counoise Rosé
2015 MCA Cuvée (Syrah, Grenache, Tannat, Zinfandel)
2013 Vineyard Drive (Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache)

(Bottom, L to R) Ronald Merlino, Mark Adams, John Clayton)

Feb 20, 2019 at 2:57 PM Permalink

Isn't She Lovely

Another week has passed and my mullet is growing out nicely. The unfortunate thing is, mullets aren't nearly as "en vogue" up here in the country as they are down in Los Angeles. Ironic, I know. The business in the front part makes me feel like a desk jockey. The party in the back part makes me feel like an artist without a canvas. I'm afraid I've been tricked.

I would cut it all to one length, but then I would be neither business in the front nor party in the back. I would be like that person who brings a party ball to a soirée (remember those?) only to leave after half a beer at 10:15.

Beverly Hills might have ruined me.

I'm really struggling with my mullet you guys.

Let's move on to another topic, shall we?

I've got it!

Two things happened 9 years ago at this this time in 2010. For those of you familiar with the Adams Ranch Vineyard, you know that we planted about 4 acres of Estrella Clone Syrah in 2005. What you may not know is that we soldiered on to plant more grapes almost every successive year, unconcerned about crippling poverty, zero market presence and chronic halitosis.

Yea, though we walked through the valley of unbridled ambition, we feared not getting the shaft.

No, instead we planted GRENACHE!

What is now known as "The Fin", our first acre of Grenache, is celebrating it's 9th Birthday! What could be better than that you may ask? Well I will tell you.

On February 13th 2010 at 11:45pm, Ciera and I welcomed our Daughter Elizabeth into this world. Today she is also 9.

Happy Birthday Muffin!


 

Feb 13, 2019 at 8:31 PM Permalink

Riding in my Car

You guys,

I am in Beverly Hills pouring wine for the stars. I know what you're thinking, and it's totally true! 

For those curious about what Gaga and Bradley j'adored the most - it was (drum roll please, Caesar)...

The 2016 Adams Ranch Syrah!

Gaga (she likes it when I call her Stefani) said she loved the enahanced aromatics and oily viscosity that the Roussanne brought to the wine.

Brad just said, "I really dig your car, man".

Well guys, that's it for tonight. Ciera came down to "The Hills" with me for this work trip, and thank goodness too. I needed all of the cerebral support I could get and she knows all of the words to "Think of Me" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera. She sang it softly and sweetly for hours on end as we poured our wines at the Peninsula Hotel from 11am to 9pm. She is THE BEST. 

Special thanks to Miema and Poppa Adams for taking care of our sweet Elizabeth while we were loading up on Hollywood street cred. We will be home soon, although you may not recognize us in our freshly carved mullets. Business in the front and party in the back. It's about to be the "en fuego" trend for both males and "contra-males" (thats what chicks like to be called down here).

See you around and bite my dust,

MCA



 

Feb 6, 2019 at 11:11 PM Permalink

Copernicus Crater

Greetings Earthlings.

I'm curious to know whether or not flat-earthers believe in a heliocentric solar system. As you will read below, the head honcho in charge of naming moon craters was publicly a geocentrist, but secretly a supporter of Copernicus' idea of heliocentrism. Flat-earthers by the way, are also known by a relatively modern colloquialism applicable also to anti-vaxxers: bat shit crazy.

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Copernicus Crater is named after the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. Like many of the craters on the Moon's near side, it was given its name by Giovanni Riccioli, whose 1651 nomenclature system has become standardized. Riccioli awarded Copernicus a prominent crater despite the fact that, as an Italian Jesuit, he conformed with church doctrine in publicly opposing Copernicus's heliocentric system. Riccioli justified the name by noting that he had symbolically thrown all the heliocentrist astronomers into the Ocean of Storms. However, astronomical historian Ewan Whitaker suspects that the prominence of Copernicus crater is a sign that Riccioli secretly supported the heliocentric system and was ensuring that Nicolaus Copernicus would receive a worthy legacy for future generations.

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In other news, today I dug up and moved a culvert. 

 

Jan 30, 2019 at 8:11 PM Permalink

Bottle up and Go

Everything is fine.

Apparently our satellite office in Philadelphia was concerned about the lack of a Wednesday blog this morning. So, instead of just waiting for it, they ignited their warning beacon. You know what happens with warning beacons, right? Once you light one, the whole chain from coast to coast goes aglow and then the rumours spread about my being kidnapped by a guild of wine-thirsty water nymphs.

The beacon was lit in Philadelphia and rapidly spread to New Jersey, the DC Metro Area, NYC and all of the 5 boroughs, William S. Burroughs (he wrote a dirty poem about my absence), Detroit, Bay City, Grand Rapids and Traverse City, all set their beacons a-burnin'.

"The water Nymphs, m'Lord. They must have taken him asunder! Fire the Beacons!"

Chicago set their torches to the sky, Milwaukee, St. Louis, on down to Atlanta, Nashville, Chattanooga and Memphis - they all had their damn beacons blazing. The BBQ pits of Texas were hoisted skyward in Houston, Austin, Dallas and San Antonio. The meditative Cairns in Arizona were stacked heavenward getting the attention of Paramahansa Yogananda's desciples at the SRF Center in San Diego. From there (as these things go), the emergency response system blazed up the spine of California and to the home office here in Paso Robles. Of course I couldn't stop the chain reaction, so now the greater populations of the Santa Cruz area are taking precautionary bong-hits and San Francisco has gone clothing non-optional. They are going fully nude only - until the wine conjurer is accounted for.

It goes on from there, but I'll not bother you with the international debacle this has grown into.

So, hello, yes, I forgot to post the blog yesterday. Cool yer damn jets. 

We bottled some 500 cases of new wines. They taste awesome. 

Now, can I get back to my water nymphs?

They are thirsty.
 

Jan 24, 2019 at 10:30 AM Permalink

Tomorrow, Tomorrow

Tomorrow, Tomorrow
We bottle, tomorrow
You're always a day away...

Man, what a depressing damn song. In the song Tomorrow from Annie, the said "sun" is going to come out "tomorrow", but tomorrow, you see, is ALWAYS a day away. Give me a break. 

Not in our case, no Siree Bob! Tomorrow is bottling day and while it will be gray and rainy (hooray!), the sun will be shining in our hearts.

Alrighty then. 

Here are all of the juicy details:

WINES:

2016 Ledge Grenache, Rolph Family Vineyard
Paso Robles, Adelaida District
15% ABV

This Grenache is farmed on a beautiful south facing slope at the Rolph Family Vineyard, which Neighbors Halter Ranch in the Adelaida District. It was destemmed into a stainless steel tank, where it cold soaked for a few days until the onset of wild fermentation. The juice was pumped over the skins directly and via delestage, ultimately punching down, pressing and barreling down once dry. The wine went dry in tank (primary fermentation) and went through malolcatic fermentation in barrel in February 2017. Both fermentations were wild.

The barrels used were once used Atelier and Ermitage Barrels.

Estimated production: 240 cases

2016 Ledge Blend, MCA Cuvée
Paso Robles 
15.6 ABV

Coming from the Adams Ranch, James Berry Vineyard, G2 Vineyard, Adelaida Vineyard and Rolph Family Vineyard, this is the only wine in the Ledge lineup that is a blend of vineyards. It consists of Zinfandel (30%), Petite Sirah (25%), Syrah (15%), Tannat (15%) and Cinsaut (15%). It was partially whole bunch and partially destemmed into stainless tanks and 2 ton poly fermenters. They cold soaked for a few days until the onset of wild fermentation. The juice was pumped over the skins directly and via delestage, ultimately punching down, pressing and barreling down once dry. The wine went dry in tank (primary fermentation) and went through malolcatic fermentation in barrel in March 2017. Both fermentations were wild.

The barrels used were new and used Rousseau, Meyrieux, Taransaud and Ermitage barrels, most of which were 400 liter vessels.

Estimated production: 270 cases 


Ciera bottling our first commercial vintage, the
2009 Ledge Syrah, Adams Ranch Vineyard in 2011.


In parting we will leave you with this Carter Family verse: 

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,
Keep on the sunny side of life.
It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way,
If we keep on the sunny side of life.

Jan 16, 2019 at 2:53 PM Permalink

Revolution 9

Today is the 9th day of January 2019.

We're getting the calendar dialed in with bottling dates, vineyard tasks and a wide variety of events. The rest of January sees the bottling of two new releases, both of which have been barrel aged for over 27 months, as opposed to our ordinary 18-24.  More on that next week.

We will begin to transplant our nursery vines (Counoise, Cinsaut, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir and Syrah) into our vineyards and give the irrigation system an upgrade for the purpose of injecting worm tea into the drip line for our baby vines. Worm tea is an organic liquid fertilizer derived from worm castings, and is a powerful soil nutrient.

We will fill you in on our busier, latter half of the month next week, but for now we are enjoying all of this glorious rain.  Ciera got me a sous-vide pressure cooking rig for Christmas, so we are enjoying some cozy slow cooked meals along with lots of music and family time. We hope your January is going well, please feel free to drop us a line with questions or comments about the wines (or anything else) any time.

Below is an old photo of Dad showing me the ropes as he and I glue up some PVC and install the original irrigation system in 2005. Thanks Dad!

See you next week,

MCA


 

Jan 9, 2019 at 8:09 PM Permalink

Hey Nineteen

Hey (Twenty) Nineteen & Happy New Year everyone! 

We are as excited as ever for the happenings at Ledge Vineyards and the Adams Ranch. We will be bottling two new wines on the 17th of this month and are dialing in new blocks in the vineyard. We look forward to meeting and tasting with those of you who have joined our lists. We will have a pick up party and concert to announce very soon.

I found the below both humorous and inspirational. They are "New Years Rulin's" from the notebook of the late great Woodie Guthrie.

Enjoy & we hope to see you soon.

Jan 2, 2019 at 6:00 PM Permalink