Michael Hepworth
CARMEL VALLEY, CA(Spiritsman)5/26/12/— Holman Ranch Vineyards, located in the heart of Carmel Valley at the northern end of the Carmel Valley Appellation announces its new releases will be launched on Sunday, May 27th.
New releases include:
· 2011 Rose of Pinot Noir
· 2010 Pinot Noir: Hunter’s Cuvée
· 2011Sauvignon Blanc
· 2011 Pinot Gris
Technical facts: Holman Ranch uses a cross-flow filter for its wines. This process is more gentle and makes wine flavors more concise.
Stop by the tasting room at 19 E. Carmel Valley Road on Sunday, May 27th between 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and be among the first to taste the new releases.
Estate Wine Information
· The 2011 Heather’s Hill is made from vineyard bloques 1 and 2.
· Holman Ranch will be bottling the 2011 Pinot Noir’s on May 24. The bottling includes theEstate, Hunter’s Cuvée and Heather’s Hill.
· The 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay were bottled in February 2012. Typically Sauvignon Blanc is an early ripener and the first grape to the winery. However, at Holman Ranch, it’s the last grape harvested due to their unique microclimate. The Sauvignon Blanc, Musque clone exhibits low pH and high acid.
· The 2011 Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris are fermented in stainless steel. None of the Holman Ranch whites go through malolactic fermentation. All wines are filtered, but none are fined.
What will taste will be experienced with the new releases?
· The 2010 estate Pinot Noir has been doing well in the bottle, most recently displaying some blackberry characteristics. The taste is delightful!
· The 2011 Sauvignon Blanc includes hints of lime, under ripe kiwi, green apple, and minerality. The wine is subtle and crisp. The wine looks green in the bottle!
· The 2011 Pinot Gris lingers on the palate. It has a wonderful citrus (lemon) and honey taste. This wine is dry and food friendly.
· The 2011 Chardonnay has hints of vanilla and is aged 4 months in new French Oak, after being cold fermented process in stainless steel. The Chardonnay is fermented “sur lies” and Holman Ranch uses a sparkling wine press which is more gentle on the juice. The Chardonnay is pressed with the stems and shows a viscous, rich Chardonnay that will further mellow with age, asking it an ideal food wine.
· The 2011 Rose of Pinot Noir is fermented in stainless steel and sees no oak. At Holman Ranch the winemaker pulls the juice off the Pinot Noir after destemed and lets this vintage sit on the skins for 4 hours, creating a light, crisp and completely dry Rose. A perfect middle ground exhibiting the best traits of Red and White wine, this Rose is just in time for summer BBQs. The wine has no tannins and offers a fruity flavor with subtle hints of cherry, strawberry and watermelon.
The 2010 Hunter’s Cuvee Pinot Noir was created from vineyard bloque 5 and Pinot Noir clone 115. This wine offers a bold, rich taste and is more tannic than the estate Pinot Noir. There are subtle hints of blueberries and raspberry jam. The wine is intense and long on palate. This is the first Bloque and clone designate that Holman Ranch has made from their estate Pinot Noir. There are 2 others in the works for future vintages, each named after the 3 Lowder sisters, daughters of the owners Tom and Jarman Lowder.
The new releases will retail for:
· 2011 Rose of Pinot Noir $22
· 2010 Pinot Noir: Hunter’s Cuvée $38
· 2011 Sauvignon Blanc $20
· 2011 Pinot Gris $20
All bottles are 750 ml. 20% discount for wine club members.
Holman Ranch Vineyards and Winery estate grown wine varietals include Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rosé of Pinot Noir. The wines are unfined and crafted to deliver the true varietal characteristic of the grape from harvest to glass. Holman Ranch believes that purity and passion are key ingredients in the wine-making process, and this is where Holman Ranch truly stands out.
Sustainable and Green:
Holman Ranch is committed to being sustainable and green in practice, using the earth’s natural resources to enhance the health of the vineyards and olive grove. To reduce the use of chemicals; Holman Ranch uses organic and sustainable farming practices. This also allows the grapes and olives to express the natural complexity and balance of their terroir.
No synthetic chemical herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers are used in managing the vineyards or olive grove. Instead, beneficial cover crops such as oats, peas, beans and vetch are planted each Fall to suppress weeds naturally and return valuable nitrogen back into the soil. These thriving plants increase water retention in Holman Ranch’s diverse soils and attract beneficial insects to the vineyards, naturally reducing the need for irrigation and reducing the use of insecticides. Each Spring, this cover crop is tilled into the soil while still green and left to compost naturally into the earth, thus enhancing overall soil health.
Throughout the growing season, the vineyard staff carefully monitor both plant and soil health. After harvest, organic compost is used throughout the rows to enhance soil quality and cover crop seed is once again sown. Today, Holman Ranch is a thriving sustainable estate uncompromising in its farming standards and its stewardship of the land, in return, its vineyards and orchards yield nature’s finest quality fruit while protecting its most valuable asset; the land.
In addition to the vineyard, Holman Ranch’s olive grove is also farmed organic with certification in the works. An interesting fact is that our olive trees are alternate bearing, which means that one year they may produce 90 gallons worth of oil, while next year they may produce only 10.
Following are some interesting facts about Holman Wines:
· All of the owner’s daughters are named after a color of green.
· There are three wines named after the sisters:
· Hunter’s Cuveé
· Heather’s Hill
· In 2012, Kelly’s Pinot Noir (name to be unveiled later this year) will be launched
For more information go to www.holmanranch.com. (on or before 5/27) Or stop by the Holman Ranch Tasting Room at 19 E. Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley.
Vineyard & Winery Background:
Located at the north eastern tip of the Carmel Valley Appellation, the family-owned Holman Ranch resides approximately 12 miles inland from the Pacific Coast. Immersed in history and romance, the ranch has not only proven to be an excellent growing location for our vineyards but also for the Tuscan varietal olive trees which have flourished under the temperate climate.
· Our estate-grown wine varietals are planted on approximately 19 acres of undulating terrain.
· The wines produced are unfined and crafted to deliver the true varietal of the grape from harvest to bottle.
· The climate and terroir of the appellation has played a critical part in the success of our wines. The warmth of our inland valley coupled with the cooling marine layer has established itself as an ideal microclimate for the production of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Our Burgundy Clones have thrived from the perfect blend of ideal climate, southern exposure and thin rocky soils.
Holman Ranch Background:
Holman Ranch: Where the Past is Always Present. Tucked away in the rolling hills of Carmel Valley, historic Holman Ranch provides a unique and memorable setting for weddings, special events, family gatherings, corporate retreats, and team-building events. With its charming gardens, stunning mountain views and serenity, this private estate affords old-world charm while providing modern day conveniences. This stunning Property includes a fully restored stone hacienda, overnight guest rooms, vineyards, olive grove, horse stables and more.
Michael Hepworth
287 S.Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
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