I have added a few wineries that might be new, or are simply operations that I have not bought anything from as of this point in time.
• Turtle Rock Vineyards: based in San Luis Obispo, I noticed a WB contributor nominated their Mourvedre as one of the best he/she has ever tasted. That alone is enough to catch my attention.
http://www.turtlerockvineyards.com
• Fine Disregard Wines: I am familiar with this one, but have not tasted their Napa Valley Oak Knoll “Milhouse” Semillon or Stags Leap District “Lost Row” Syrah. The word around the campfire is that there is a Mourvedre in the pipeline…
• Nadeau Family Vintners: according to their website, Nadeau is “an estate micro-winery located in the Santa Lucia Mountains four miles west of Paso Robles”. The wines range from Zinfandel, Rhône-style wines, and the occasional Sangiovese or Nebbiolo. The descriptions for the very small-production wines lean toward a more full-fruited, generous style. Some of the bottlings are estate-grown; others are sourced from nearby vineyards.
http://www.nadeaufamilyvintners.com/wine.html
• Idell Family Vineyards: I fail to grasp how I have not seen prior TN’s from this winery: “Idell Family Vineyards has partnered with viticulturist and vintner Steve Matthiasson of Napa to develop an ultra-premium Chardonnay vineyard, the Michael Mara Vineyard”! This grower/winery in Sonoma Valley also farms a Syrah vineyard, and one for the “Oscar” Mixed Blacks wine. Their “Oscar” Zinfandel is vinified using fruit from the Hamel Family’s newer Sonoma Valley planting - not the Armor Plate (formerly Stellwagen) Vineyard. “The six acre ‘Michael Mara Vineyard’ is a partnership between Richard and Susan Kornblatt Idell and Steve and Jill Klein Matthiasson.” The “Oscar” Mixed Blacks red wine is composed of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Carignan, Mourvedre and Grenache.
• Sutton Cellars: According to the website, Sutton Cellars has been around since 1996, is based in a warehouse in Dogpatch, San Francisco, and focuses on minimal intervention in producing small lots of a diverse selection of wines, ciders, and digestifs, including (but not limited to) vermouth. A forthcoming 2013 “GRCRG” Carignane/Grenache blend from Mendocino’s Tolini Vineyard is in the works.
http://suttoncellars.com
• West of Temperance: the winery participated in last year’s Berserker Day, and I believe that we will see an offering from WoT again this year. Unique wines, like “Aglianico, Sangiovese and Teroldego sourced from stellar California vineyards. Mendocino County Old-Vine Carignane, Petite Sirah, Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir and Napa Valley Merlot” are among the products available from this Napa-based operation. The “Colorfield” blend has received strong praise in the “What Berserker Day Wines Are You Drinking?” thread.
• Hillcrest Vineyard: the website declares this producer to be the oldest winery in Oregon and a master of Pinot Noir. I am fascinated by the odd combination of grapes blended together (Carignan and Pinot Noir, anybody?). The site asserts: “Beginning in 2010, we now produce wines from different corners of the old world. Based on relationships we have developed over the last 3 decades, we make wines with friends in Priorat, Spain, Maury, France, the Mosel Valley of Germany and Caltagirone, Italy. These wines, like our Oregon wine, come from the grapes that helped develop the reputation of these world class wine areas. The varieties we make include Carignan, Grenache, Syrah, Lladoner Pelut, Frappato, Nero D’Avola and Riesling.”
https://www.hillcrestvineyard.com
• Odonata Wines: I feel like I should taste the wines from Odonata for a couple of reasons, one being that I posted an interview with owner/winemaker Denis Hoey on the “Mourvedre Appreciation” page! Some of this winery’s bottlings are estate-grown, while all are from the Santa Clara/Santa Cruz area. Wines include Riesling, Chardonnay, Petite Sirah, and a few other diverse reds.
• Rideau Vineyard: Rideau’s estate vineyard is located in the Los Olivos District AVA of Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley. All Rhône-style wines are estate-grown; Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are bought from various SB-area vineyards. Estate wines include Viognier, Roussane, Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre.
http://rideauvineyard.com/
Again, as I have not tasted the wines from the preceding wineries, I invite those who have to share their experiences. TIA