Wines from Santa Lucia Highlands
Tudor Wines second label
see Tudor for more of Dan Tudor’s wines
Winery: First cousins, Christian Tudor and Dan Tudor started Tudor Wines in 2000, from an ancestry including generations of wine grape-growers on the island of Hvar off Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast. The family began growing grapes in California early in the 1900′s and continues to farm premium table grapes in Delano to this day. Fruit is from family owned vineyards and transformed into wine using traditional techniques, fermented in small batches and aged in French barrels. While Tudor is the Pinot Noir label, “Nacina” is used for their other varietals and means “the way” in Croatian, and is a tribute to following one’s own path in life. 4,000 case annual production.
Winemaking: Winemaker Dan Tudor begins by using only grapes from the finest sites. Perfect balance of tannins, flavor, alcohol, acid and fruit is the goal. Only the finest three year dried French oak barrels are used to complements the wine without over-powering the elegance and finesse. Wines are de-stemmed, cold-soaked, bottled unfined and unfiltered. Single vineyard wines are selected by individual barrels, and are free-run juice.
Vineyards: Tondre Grapefield is the source of most of Tudor wines, located in the center of the SLH appellation, with the Hook Vineyard Pinot Noir from further south in the SLH. The well-drained southeastern slopes of the Santa Lucia Highlands combine with cool, moist winds from the bay to create wines with complex and subtle textures. Each row is farmed to very exact specifications in terms of water, canopy, leaf volume, fruit thinning, and shoot positioning and are harvested at peak ripeness at 2.5 to 3.5 tons per acre. Picking is determined by tasting the skins of the berries, examining seed color, grape pulpy, morning berry firmness, the vine stress level, and lastly the pH, TA and Brix of the fruit.
Nacina Off-Dry Riesling, Tondré Grapefield, Santa Lucia Highlands 2014 New Vintage 12.2% alcohol
Winery Notes: “Astonishingly fresh with intense yet delicate notes of melon, honey, and well-spiced ripe grapefruit. Enormous concentration, plush flavors of ripe apricot and pear, perfectly balanced by acidity and a long finish.” Stainless fermented at low temperature, made to be off-dry at 1.8% RS, in the halbtröcken style. 640 cases made.
Nacina Dry Riesling, Tondré Grapefield, Santa Lucia Highlands 2014 New Wine! 13.0% alcohol
Winery Tasting Notes: “This classic Dry German styled Riesling has mineral nose, hints of ripe citrus, pear tart, apple and white plum. The vibrant finish is lush, with creamy notes leading to dried ginger accents on the finish.” Low-temperature, stainless tank-fermented. 200 cases made.
Nacina Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands 2013 13.3% alcohol
Winery Notes: “Features typical Santa Lucia Highlands flavors from both Tondre and Hook vineyards, including dark berry, cherry cola, cinnamon, cedar, spick and toasty oak.” Made from delicious barrels left after selecting top 8 for the 2013 Single Vineyard Tudor Pinot Noir releases from Tondre and Hook. 48 barrels made. The Nacina label supplants the former Radog second label for Tudor wines.
Nacina Riesling Ice Wine,“Wein der Eisbox” Tondré Grapefield, Santa Lucia Highlands 2014 7.5%alcohol 375mL
Winery Notes: “Opulent flavors of baked pear, apricot, apple, dried mango, peach and lime. Purity, bracing acidity and an endless, mouthwatering finish. Made with a post-harvest freezing process which perfectly simulates nature’s method, hence the Eisbox name.” 406 cases of 12 – half bottles.
Nacina Gewürtztraminer Ice Wine, “Wein der Eisbox” Danny’s Vineyard, Monterey 2014 7.5% alcohol 375mL
90 Points, Galloni: “Aromas of apricot nectar, honey and marzipan, candied ginger. Lush, round and very sweet, offering palate-coating pit fruits and honey flavors. A decidedly rich, decadent style that lingers impressively.” Made with a post-harvest freezing process. 256 cases, 1⁄2 bottles.
