Monterey and Central Coast Wines of Quality and Value
Winery: Features wines grown largely in emerging appellations such as the San Antonio Valley and San Lucas AVAs. Most vineyards are located in a high mountain valley within the southern Santa Lucia mountain range adjacent to the west side of Paso Robles and several miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. Warm days followed by cool night enabled the fruit to achieve extended hang time maximizing their true varietal characteristics. The region is quickly becoming renowned for the excellent warm-climate Bordeaux and Rhone grape varieties. Winemaker/owner Bob Balentine buys from several growers who are responsive to his insistence on farming for flavor. The 831 (area code) Label specializes in Monterey County appellations.
The first vintage 2005 was made in a small farm building on his family’s ranch, a building his father had named “Line Shack” after similar “cowboy” shacks historically scattered across large California ranches to shelter ranch hands when working far afield. The wines are now made in Paso Robles with an eye toward both maximized quality and minimized price. Emerging appellations offer quality fruit at value pricing, (especially compared to expensive areas like Napa Valley). Line Shack keeps their costs minimized by the partial use of environmentally-friendly reconditioned oak barrels, in which used inner oak is cut away, fresh oak is exposed, barrels reassembled and then flame toasted as if new, without having to cut down new trees. San Antonio Valley sources are all sustainably farmed, and no herbicides used in Monterey appellation vineyards.
Chardonnay 2018, (831 Area Code Label) Monterey Sustainably Farmed
From both SLH and Arroyo Seco appellations, it is round yet crisp in style with aromas and flavors of ripe apple, kiwi, pineapple, light toasty oak and honey finish. 50% malolactic; 50% barrel. 300 cases.
Pinot Noir 2017, (831 Area Code Label) Monterey
Sourced from various vineyards in Monterey County, it is light and elegant in style with
flavors and aromas of cherry, cranberry and cola with aromas of rose, clove and cedar. 350 cases.
Syrah 2017, Line Shack San Antonio Valley AVA Sustainably Farmed
The Syrah is big and rich with blueberry and black plum flavors, cherries and tobacco, dense color and flavor concentration supported by good structure. 3-clone field blend. With 3% Viognier. Yields under 3 tons / acre. 500 cases.
Petite Sirah 2017, Line Shack San Antonio Valley AVA Sustainably Farmed
It is a juicy and concentrated yet smooth-drinking version of the varietal, packed with blackberries, spice, anise and black tea. The vine-ripened-tannins are much more polished than normally found yet plenty of dark purple/black fruit. Vineyards yield under 3 tons/ acre.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, (831 Area Code Label) Monterey AVA Sustainably Farmed
Jammy and fruit forward in style with flavors of black cherry, currants & red licorice and aromas of mocha, leather, violets & vanilla. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petite Sirah.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Line Shack San Antonio Valley Sustainably Farmed
The Flagship Wine of Line Shack, the Cabernet has more flavor than it should at this price, due to low 2 tons/acre yields. It has black cherry, ripe plum and rose petal aromas with fleshy and concentrated flavors of currants, black fruit and mocha on a structured backbone finishing full and long.
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Line Shack Sustainably Farmed
This Top Tier Reserve Cabernet delivers classic Cabernet flavors at a friendly price, with dark fruits, ripe plum, currants, mocha and vanilla. After 2 years in oak, the top barrels were selected, racked into 20% new French oak for a year, with 5% each of Merlot, Petite Sirah and Syrah. 350 cases
