I’ve never heard of them. Has anyone?
Been around since the 2004 vintage. Maggie was the assistant winemaker at SQN before starting her own venture.
I like the wines quite a bit. Have a lot of syrah from 2010 and earlier. If you’d like a few bottles to try them out, shoot me a PM, I will part with a few at cost.
I stopped buying for various reasons, but mostly the prices went up and my wine buying has gone down.
Awesome stuff
I hated the first Lillian I had and did not buy any. A few years later I had one and decided my first experience must have been an aberration. Every bottle I have had since then has been outstanding. For you it depends on your taste preference. If you think the wine world begins in Burgundy and ends in the Loire Valley, it’s not for you. If you are partial to full flavored new world reds, you should definitely give it a try.
Love her Syrah.
This.
Unless something has changed the the Oregon wines are branded “Antica Terra” and the California wines are branded Lillian.
Both Exceptional IMHO.
dsimmons beat me to it. Her fruit sources for Lillian include some of the same for SQN.
I had a 2010 a few weeks ago that was great…bested the 2012 SQN Stock Syrah side by side. If you can find some 2004-2006, those are special.
Oldie but goodie.
http://www.graperadio.com/archives/2009/02/02/life-with-maggie/
I’ve had a few of the Syrah (none of the Antica Terra), and they’re outstanding. Big, but not overdone wines. I’m constantly irked by the requirement to buy three at a time from the winery, though. That aside, what’s in the bottle is outstanding.
Amen.
I was on the list early, and encouraged everyone to get on the list as the wines have remained very fairly priced over the years. The Roussanne is CRAZY good. Don’t over look it, even if you say you’re not a white wine person (it’s really built more for red wine drinkers anyway). Maggie is among the most charming and fun people in the wine business. Few can match her passion. If you can have dinner with her, make it a priority.
Thanks to all for the input. Lillian and Antica Terra are connected by the same winemaker, Maggie Harrison. She started her winemaking career at SQN. Lillian does source its grapes from California. I am on the Antica Terra mailing list and just got invited to join the Lillian list. With some offerings of library syrahs.
Ian,
I would agree - but what’s the tariff on that Roussanne again? I know she gets it from the Stolpman Vineyard in Ballard Canyon and that the grapes are quite beautiful, but IIRC, the club price on this was north of $50 correct? Just wondering - and comparing to other Roussannes that are out there.
Cheers.
The roussanne is $75, and worth it.
We visited for a tasting a couple of years ago and it was fantastic. I buy Lillian off and on. I would like to buy it more but it takes so many years to be drinkable that it can be challenging to buy regularly.
Thanks for the information, Paul. I truly appreciate it. That’s a pretty hefty tariff for that variety, but reading her notes, this sounds like a different kind of wine. Sounds of this she does some skin contact which would make this wine even more robust text early than it already is. Have you aged any of them? I think her first you’re making it 2011. I’d be curious to see how they develop over time. I love the variety and I’m always interested in trying new ones. Cheers!
The Roussanne is INSANE.
And to hear her discuss the berry selection alone with this wine makes you wonder how it’s even close to profitable @ $75
I am a huge fan of Roussanes from Stolpman vineyards, but how does the Lilian compare with the Jaffurs Roussane (also Stolpman fruit) which is less than half the price? (Larry you have a Stolpman Roussane too don’t you?)
I actually do not use their fruit. I’ve gotten mine from zaca Mesa and another Vineyard in eastern Santa Ynez. Qupe gets theirs from Bien Nacido.
They’re truly are lots of great examples of the variety from my area, and some wonderful ones from north of me, like Alban and Tablas Creek.
pricing is all over the board, so I guess we’ll just have to figure out what works best for you.
I’ve had a few bottles of the 2010 Syrah which were fantastic. Definitely worth trying.