In my career as a wine guy, I have visited many wineries including one of the most impressive in Tuscany, Italy… Ricasoli Winery. Recently on vacation in California I was privileged to visit a winery that absolutely blew me away!
My wife and I went to visit my good friend Sid Kastner who has a ranch in Santa Ynez California. Sid informed me this last summer that Happy Canyon was recently made an appellation and that when I came to visit him, he wanted to show off some of the wineries that are in the Happy Canyon area. His neighbors, Jim & Mary Dierberg just so happen to the be the owners of the aforementioned winery..
Sid who is also friends with the Dierbergs, set up an appointment for us to be given a private tour by Jim & Mary. This winery is not open to the public so this was a special treat. Jim & Mary could not have been better hosts and tour guides as they took us around their property with it’s extensive vineyards and into their fabulous winery. Without going into great detail I have to say that this is a top of the line facility, and after listening to Jim & Mary talk about their wines it is certainly a reflection of their passion for the wine world.
From the selection of the highest quality fruit, to the fermentation tanks, to the choice of some of the best oak barrels where the wine is aged underground in caves you get the sense that you are in for a treat when you open a bottle of the Dierberg’s wine. They actually produce wine at this facility under three different labels. Dierberg of course along with Star Lane Vineyards and Three Saints.
After touring the winery we were brought into a room where we were treated to a tasting of some of their wines. Even though our group received the best of treatment, and I certainly liked both Jim and Mary Dierberg, I put on my objective wine taster hat and reviewed the wines presented to me. Here are my tasting notes…
2008 Star Lane Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc
I am not a huge fan of sauvignon blanc from California. I have only tasted a few that I have scored well at least until now. The nose was pleasantly grassy with notes of lemon-lime and grapefruit backed by a mouth watering acidity. On the palate the acidity shines through driving the delicious notes of grapefruit, kiwi, lime, grassy notes and a nice minerality.
It reminded me of a cross between a New Zealand sauvignon blanc and a Sancerre. Not bad! 92 points
2007 Dierberg Vineyards Chardonnay
On the nose my first thoughts were a white Burgundy with a California kiss. Soft melon notes backed by minerality and slight hits of butter. Bright minerality comes through on the palate with a nice roundness. Melons and citrus notes with a lengthy finish. This chardonnay is nicely balanced and well made. 92 points
2007 Dierberg Estates Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
Bold on the nose with notes of dark berries, cherries, black tea and hints of oak. The mouth is filled with raspberries, black tea, dark cherries and dried herbs. This pinot has good acidity to balance out the boldness of the fruit followed by a lengthy finish that features the black tea and herb notes. This wine is excellent for food and will age nicely over the next fifteen to twenty years. This pinot exhibits a lot of youth. 95 points
2007 Star Lane Santa Ynez Valley Merlot
This wine shows a bouquet of toasty vanilla, figs, blackberries and red currants backed by hits of spice. The palate shows sweet tannins, vanilla, boysenberries and spice with a tannic grip on the finish which is just a little thin. 89 points
2006 Star Lane Cabernet Sauvignon
A bouquet of black currants, pencil lead and dark cherries. Excellent concentration on the palate. Dark fruits, spice and cedar notes backed by balanced acidity followed by a silky smooth finish with some herbaceous notes on the back end. 90+ points
2005 Star Lane Cabernet Sauvignon “Astral”
Black currants, eucalyptus, black tea and tomato leaf come through on the nose. Very ripe on the front of the palate with dark fruits black currants and traces of minerality. Some brown sugar notes hit you on the back side followed by a lengthy finish. 89 points
2006 Dierberg Estates Syrah
A wonderful nose of vanilla bean, boysenberries and mocha. Bold and spicy on the palate with notes of boysenberries, black plum and dark cherries. Well balanced with good length on the finish which features spicy dark cherries. 92 points
Very impressive wines featuring the wine making skills of Nick de Luca and Andy Alba. I believe that we can look forward with eager anticipation to future wines coming from Dierberg Estates, Star Lane Vineyards and Three Saints. Stan The Wine Man
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