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The complexity and depth of flavor make this Pinot Noir a great match with savory foods such as Copper River salmon and hearty mushroom dishes.

In 2003, these Estrella Clone vines yielded what Bruce called, “the smallest clusters and berries of all the Syrah harvested this vintage.” The juice went through a 35 to 45 day maceration. The wine was then aged for 15 months in French oak (50% new barrels), unracked, sur lees. This Syrah shows the warm climate attributes of plumy, jammy fruit that finishes with distinct black pepper spiciness.

Blends like this are made “for the table” that is, wine made to complement a wide range of food, poured into any available glassware and enjoyed with good food, conversation, friends and family. Enjoy with grilled salmon, savory meats, and large colorful platters of antipasto.

The Northside White and the Northside Red are from grapes grown in our 30 year old vineyard on the north side of the Santa Ynez river. This white wine is made of 40% White Riesling and 60% Sauvignon Blanc. The wine was not aged in barrels and did not undergo malolactic fermentation. As a result, the wine is crisp and fruity and an ideal companion for seafood. It is the ideal summertime wine which can be enjoyed year round.

The complexity and depth of flavor make this Pinot Noir a great match with savory foods such as lamb, Copper River salmon, and hearty mushroom dishes.

The complexity and depth of flavor make this Pinot Noir a great match with savory foods such as lamb, Copper River salmon, and mushroom medley.

Chardonnay showing the depth and richness of this wine is a special treat with rich foods such as pork roast, lobster or salmon. Also try it as an appetite inducing pre-meal delicacy.

A dry winter and spring in ‘03 set the stage for the development of small grape clusters and tiny berries. Winemaker Bruce McGuire harvested just one lot for this wine: the four rows in the northwest corner of our oldest block of Syrah. The Syrah clone selected for this wine is 100% “Estrella Clone” for spicy density and a persistent finish to fill out and balance the wine. The wine was aged for 14 months in French oak barrels, 75% were new barrels. A fine choice for rustic, hearty fare and your favorite “stinky” cheese such as Taleggio from Italy or aged Red Hawk from California.

Once again the long cool growing season of the Santa Rita Hills gave us a late November harvest. The grapes were picked at ripness on the very late date on November 23rd. The Syrah juice went through a 40 to 45 day maceration. The wine was then aged for 15 months in barrel, unracked, sur lees. Cold climate Syrah is marked by its forward berry character, dense floral component (such as lavender) and white pepper spice. The full body and rustic tannins of Syrah make it a good pairing with strong cheese and hearty foods.

This was also a tricky vintage because of uneven fruit set requiring meticulous fruit management during the summer and close attention during picking to insure only optimal fruit was grown and harvested. This wine is a good choice to pair with many mild, hard cheeses and foods such as roast chicken or whole, farm raised stripped bass.

A blend of two neighboring vineyards, the 2004 Chardonnay SRH is an example of the ripe, concentrated Chardonnay for which our region is known. Winemaker Bruce McGuire had each vineyard block picked as the fruit ripened. This was the third consecutive low rain year which was reflected in small crop yields and outstanding fruit intensity. Average yield in the Chardonnay was 1.7 tons to the acre; a harvest to sadden the farmer and gladden the imbiber. This wine is a good choice to pair with many mild, hard cheeses (or, for you cheese heads out there, try with Cow Girl Creamery’s Red Hawk) and foods such as roast chicken or whole, farm raised stripped bass.

The wine was aged primarily in French oak from Burgundy (36% new oak) and bottled August 3, 2004. The complexity of flavor found in Pinot Noir from Lafond Vineyard is a wonderful match with savory foods and a classic with grilled salmon or mushrooms.

Rising in the middle of the western Santa Ynez Valley, the Santa Rita Hills (SRH) are the distinguishing feature of our AVA, home of Lafond Vineyard and a wonderful area to grow Pinot Noir. The long, very cool growing season of this area is exemplified by February bud break and September harvest, a long period for vine physiology. We feel this long growing season is what imparts the complexity of flavor and fruit intensity to our Pinot Noir. A tremendous amount of effort has gone into fine tuning the vineyard to coax this fickle grape into producing the exotic, elusive flavors only pampered Pinot Noir will reveal. Winemaker Bruce McGuire chooses very specific sites in the vineyard for each of his Pinot Noir selections. Several different Pinot Noir clones, some planted as early as 1983, add to the palette of flavor and texture from which to craft each Pinot Noir. In 2004, Bruce chose 6 clones from 16 vineyard lots (Lafond Vineyard and the nearby Arita Hills Vineyard) picked at ripness over a two week period. This was the third consecutive dry rain year which was reflected in small crop yields. The addition of a late season heat wave gave the already concentrated wines a fleshy quality without over ripe characteristics. The wine was aged in French oak from Burgundy (25% new oak) and bottled August 3, 2005. The complexity of flavor found in Pinot Noir from Lafond Vineyard is a wonderful match with savory foods and a classic with grilled salmon or mushrooms.

The cool climate character of this Syrah is then enhanced by barrel aging in an international assortment of French, Hungarian, and American oak barrels. Thirty percent of these barrels were new. One of our favorite wines for pairing with hearty fare and grilled foods, this wine is also fun to match with cheese such as Taleggio.

2004 was the third consecutive dry rain year in the Santa Rita Hills. The vines displayed their displeasure with lower yields, but once again flavors show outstanding concentration. Bruce chose eight vineyard lots for this wine, encompassing four different clones of Syrah. He then aged the wine in a blend of 50 barrels to give the wine layers of complexity and texture. This Syrah shows the “cool-climate” character found in Syrah grown in the Santa Rita Hills. Flavors are marked by forward dark berry, violets, and terrific white pepper spice intensity. One of our favorite wines for pairing with hearty fare and grilled foods, this wine is also fun to match with cheese such as Taleggio.

Lafond Winery's vineyard designated Chardonnays showcase select lots that exhibit extraordinary concentration of flavor, intensity and structure.