Welcome to 2016, a new year filled with great promise and opportunity – and hopefully, lots of precipitation in every form needed to refill our depleted reservoirs across the state. From our family to yours, we extend our heartfelt wishes for a year of health, happiness and abundance. We’re thankful that Mother Nature is already delivering much-needed gifts in the rain department to us in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Last January, there was no rainfall to speak of, so the fact we have over 3 inches in just the first few days is very exciting, indeed! The vines could seriously use a drink.
Out in the vineyard, it’s been cold enough to begin pruning, which renews the vines and prepares them for a hopefully abundant harvest. In the cellar, our young wines are quietly aging, almost ready for spring bottling. In the winery and tasting room we are refreshing and refurbishing. And we welcome you with an abundance of good wines to replenish your cellar after the inevitable depletion that occurs during the holidays!
This is certainly Cabernet Sauvignon weather, so open that Dean’s List you’ve been saving. We have more! Not to mention it is also a fine time to make that hearty stew you’ve been dreaming about, ready to pair with our equally stout and comforting Petite Sirah. Don’t forget to try our new GSM! We think this wine is so good you might need to Get Some More!
EVENTS
January 16th, Winter Passport Day. Your passport is your ticket to over 50 Santa Cruz Mountains wineries, each with a unique tasting experience. Bill the Oysterman will be here for Passport. If your Passport is dated 2013 or earlier, it is now expired, but you can trade it in for a new one, good for two whole years, for just $35. www.scmwa.com
January 17th, Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival. Join us at Santa Cruz’ Cocoanut Grove for a wine and chocolate extravaganza to benefit re-entry students at UC Santa Cruz. www.santacruzchocolatefestival.org
January 18th, Martin Luther King Day: Tasting room closed in observance of the holiday.
January 30th and 31st, Sippers Club Session. Club members are invited to sample the new release wines along with tasty bites from Chef Desiree.
A History Lesson: How Older Vintages Are Faring
If you’re curious how some older vintages of Burrell School wines are tasting, here are a couple of notes from recent experience:
2003 Valedictorian – drinking nicely – with its plentiful black cherry from Merlot (50%), leather and cedar-framed structure from 33% Cabernet and its lovely pine bough accent from 17% Cabernet Franc – still has 6 – 8 years to go
2005 Pinot Noir – most amazing dark fruit with a red halo, drink soon
2005 Burrell School Cabernet Franc – still as Francish as you remember – enjoy now and over the next year
2004 Valedictorian – very lively and yet stalwart – still has legs – age another 3 to 5 years or so
2001 Valedictorian – massive as a castle wall, you can hang onto this one for another 7 – 10 years
