2014 Spring Release Wines

2014 Booker Estate 

(51% Tempranillo, 28% Syrah, 13% Petit Verdot, 8% Grenache) 

The Estate is a glorious dense and purple color with fantastic character showing off both red and black berries as well as a big mid-palate. Estate has become our version of  the great wines of the Northern Rhone. When I make Estate I'm always looking for barrels that are old world rustic and have dark notes of coffee, tobacco and leather. This wine is also meant to be dense, chewy and tannic. You may now be saying to yourself, "there's no Tempranillo in Northern Rhone" and that would be a correct statement. The wine seemed to be missing something while blending though, so I started blending in the Temp barrels and voila! They just made the wine better. Because of it’s big tannins and structure this wine will need to be cellared for about 6 months. Crack the first bottle this fall or watch for my drinking window notes.

 

2014 Fracture 

(100% Syrah)

Fracture is always a tough one, I'm trying to make a world-class Syrah that can compete with any in the world, though it is daunting to think of it that way. Each year the battle with this wine is to keep it elegant enough to enjoy with or without food without losing sight of it’s density or texture. The 2014s were both acid driven and textural and has the opportunity to be as good as the 2013 but age even better. It won't be as debaucheries as in year one but I believe it will arguably surpass it in year two. Big, rich and covered in all spice, this vintage walks a tight line between mass and finesse which is consistently Fracture!

 

2014 Ripper 

(100% Grenache)

With the Ripper, my goal is to emulate the Southern Rhone's Chateauneuf du Pape.  Unlike most wineries in California, this wine is 100% Grenache with no added Syrah for color. Ripper is true to its variety showing red fruits like strawberries, raspberries as well as hints of bubble gum and cherry cola. I do not want to overwhelm this Grenache with wood, therefore the majority was aged in concrete and the rest in large-format used barrels. I believe 2014 was a great year for Grenache and this Ripper will go down as one of Booker's finest. 

 

2014 Vertigo 

(68% Syrah, 26%  Mourvedre, 6% Grenache)

Vertigo is Booker's version of a GSM, similar to the Fulldraw, but slightly more power driven than finesseful. I cracked a bottle before writing so I could really sink into it and this is what I got...blueberries and black fruits followed up by a long soft, pillow-like mid palate that leads into a lingering finish of beautifully ripe grapes.  When choosing barrels to go into Vertigo, I look for ample stem inclusion in the Mourvedre and Grenache as well as a perfectly ripe Syrah. This GSM is usually ready to drink fairly quickly, but will soften a bit within a year.

 

2014 Fulldraw

(46% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 21% Mourvedre) 

Fulldraw Vineyard is immediately next door to Booker Vineyard. It's owned and farmed by my Assistant Winemaker Connor McMahon and, for all intensive purposes, the two vineyards are completely interchangeable. I was fortunate to plant the largest phase of this property with Connor and believe that his vineyard will become one California's top producers.  This vineyard designate wine will always be made up of several grape varietals in order to showcase the different terroir of this gorgeous property. The 2014 was a classic GSM (Syrah,Grenache,Mourvedre.) I always let Connor take the lead on this wine and tell me how he would like to be represented. Stems are added for spice and structure and we always strive for a textural mid palate. While the first Fulldraw vintage in 2013 was a homer out of the gates, I believe the 2014 is superior to its predecessor.  Production for this vintage was minimal so don't miss out! 

 

2014 RLF 

(100% Pinot Noir)

Don’t be confused, yes Booker made a Pinot Noir. As many of you know RLF is our second label and was created in honor of my late father-in-law. My goal has always been to make a high quality wine at a friendly price.  In 2014 the best fruit available was from Santa Rita Hills, Edna Valley and one of the most beautiful Pinot Vineyards in the world in San Simeon.  This wine is definitely made to California style, and I think it will compare favorably with wines in the upper price range from Santa Lucia Highlands. The fruit comes from two different vineyards on the coast. One of which literally overlooks the water, and the other in Arroyo Grande about five minutes from the water. The alcohol is low, but the flavors are not. I'm not gonna lie, I was a bit nervous, being a Rhone guy and making a Pinot. Like any great wine, it always comes down to sourcing the best fruit and not screwing it up. Nearly half of this vintage was made in concrete, with the rest in new French Oak. At $45 if you don't like it I'll keep it!

 

Sweet

(100% Petit Manseng)

I know I have only made two, but this was exactly what I was trying to accomplish when I set out to make a sweet wine. I’m just going come out and say it. It is superior to the last Sweet bottled in every way. I am so confident about this sweet wine that I would buy back any unopened bottles! The sad part is that because we would one gather one barrel each year from this block my hand was forced to graft it to another varietal.  Therefore, this collector’s item will also be the last. Please send me your feedback after trying. I want to make sure I’m not alone in this world!