Aptly named for the terroir, Calcareous Vineyard is perched high atop a limestone plateau, aka calcareous soil, on the westside of the Paso Robles Wine Trail. Situated in the Paso Robles AVA, the influence of the Templeton Gap and the Salinas valley fog and steep hillsides make this a spectacular setting for the vines to flourish.
Calcareous Vineyard is the collaboration of a father-daughter team, Lloyd Messer and Dana Brown, who purchased the 442 acre estate in 2000. Today, Calcareous Vineyard is woman-run, with Dana as the winemaker and her sister Erika at her side. Their first harvest was in 2006, winning yearly accolades in wine tasting competitions ever since.
Calcareous Vineyard‘s estate wines are grown in three vineyards, one of which is located on the very eastern edge of the Paso Robles AVA in the York Mountain AVA. Due to the deeper soils and the coastal influence of the York Mountain AVA, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are grown here in small lots for single varietal vineyard designate wines.
All the wines at Calcareous Vineyard have excellent merit. The 2012 Chardonnay was awarded 93 Points at the Gold World Wine Competition. The buttery rich Chardonnay exhibits peach and mineral notes with flavors of tangerine and hints of almond and a sliver of oaky vanilla. The 2011 Calcareous Pinot Noir, York Mountain is superb and also a Gold Medal winner at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Pure and bright, this Pinot Noir delights with strawberry and tarry musk scents with a little bit of spice that beckons for another taste.
Also noteworthy is the 2010 Calcareous Grenache-Mourvedre, an earthy concoction of plum and peppercorn, cassis and wild mushrooms. Bordeaux lovers will rejoice with the 2010 Calcareous Lloyds, a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Named after the founder of Calcareous Vineyard, this Bordeaux style wine is full-bodied and complex with firm tannins and displays silky, rich, dark black cherry, blackberry and cocoa aromas.
Calcareous Vineyard is the perfect place to simply relax with a glass of wine and gaze at the panoramic views, or to play a game of bocce ball on a warm sunny day. Food and wine pairings, horseback wine tasting treks and winery tours are also available upon request. www.calcareous.com
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