Most vintners pride themselves on cultivating each grape to reach its full potential but few are as relentless as Ishka from Guyomar Wine Cellars. It takes more than just a prime Willow Creek location like theirs where soft cooling breezes flow through the Templeton Gap and hardly any precipitation falls April through October to make elegant wines.
It’s also Ishka’s, meticulous vineyard practices that set his wines apart. Dry farming is part of his success but that means more than simply no irrigation. It means he coaxes moisture to keep coming up, almost magically. Also, his head trained vines are designed to give grapes character and structure while neutral oak barrels let the grapes do what they do best. The steepest vineyard in the Paso Robles appellation may make it challenging to farm but it is worth every sip of velvety red.
A rose of Grenache had nice crisp acidity with a broad melon mouthfeel that lingered. This pink wine can handle a hearty steak or rich feast of many flavors. Guyomar Wine Cellars’ Monsignor was an intriguing blend of Petite Sirah, Zin, Grenache, and Syrah with wonderfully balanced layers of spices and ripe plum. The 2014 Editor covered the continuum from complex to smooth with grace. A very memorable flight. A breathtaking view.
0 Comments