Toucan Wines 2012 Estate Zinfandel

Friday, December 20, 2013

2011 Toucan Wines Old Vine Carignane - Released

Our old vine Carignane is harvested from the low-yielding 120+ year old vines, grown in the Evangelho Vineyard located in Contra Costa County and planted in 1890.

This Evangelho grown fruit was the last harvested from the Evangelho vineyard in 2011. This last harvest assures us the ripest possible conditions from the choicest sweet spot in this amazing vineyard. We traveled to the vineyard, the morning of September 28th and returned with 8 full bins of amazing Carignane clusters.

That same afternoon, we crushed the fruit and then cold-soaked the must for 7 days before the natural yeast took hold. The wine slowly fermented and was pressed to a combination of mostly new French and Hungarian barrels.

After 22 months in fine oak barrels, and a total of three rackings, we proudly hand-bottled this wine unfined and unfiltered. The bottling of 238 cases took place the 3rd week of July, 2013. In addition to the standard 750ml bottles, we bottled five 3 liter double magnums.

The resulting wine from this heirloom varietal, grow is loaded with bursting fruit, very balanced acid and refined oak aging. Today, this wine is drinking beautifully, and should drink well for many years to come - depending on storage.

Back in Arroyo Grande at our estate vineyard, 2011 was the last of three very challenging years for our estate vineyard. As a result we could not produce our Estate Zinfandel or our Estate Petite Sirah. In 2011, this Old Vine Carignane and a small batch release of Old Vine Carignane Dessert Wine was all we produced.

Harvest: Sept. 28, 2011
Bottled: July 20-25, 2013
Production: 238 cases
Alcohol: 15.8
pH: 3.31
TA: .83


"Toucan Symphony" by Laurel Sherrie



Monday, June 10, 2013

Toucan Wines 2010 Carignane - Gold from Orange County's Commercial Wine Competition

The Toucan Wines Carignane has been a favorite ever since we started producing it in 2006. Exclusively from the Evangelho Vineyard planted in 1890 and aged in mostly new oak for up to 22 months.

Our 2008 was awarded Gold & Best of Class, and the following release (as no 2009 was produced) our 2010 has been awarded Gold from Orange County's Commercial Wine Competition. We're also fortunate to have both a 2011 and 2012 Old Vine Carignane from this wonderful vineyard currently resting in barrels.

Friday, May 31, 2013

Late Bottling of 2009 Estate Zinfandel Releases (40 cases)

Our 2009 Late Bottling Estate Zinfandel Releases.... after 26 months in barrel and nearly a year and half in bottle, the second bottling (B2) of our Estate Zinfandel is available. See more here, and watch the Wine Weirdos talk about our 09' Zinfandel... Only 40 cases produced - order soon!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Event Postcard Recently Emailed - Perfect Weather

The weather is perfect for shipping wine - order today by calling me at 805-474-8514, emailing or ordering on the website.

Newly scheduled winemaker dinner at Restaurant Devon, fine dining in Monrovia on May 16th. I'll be joining guests and featuring a wide selection of our wines. Reservations: 626-305-0013

Taste of Pismo Beach April 27
Morro Bay Wine Seller April 27 5pm
Restaurant Devon, Monrovia
(winemaker dinner) May 16
Redd Collection, Culver City May 18
Casa Pacifica, Camarillo June 2
Ojai Wine Festival, Ojai June 9
Santa Barbara Wine Festival June 29
LotusFest, Santa Barbara July 13
Taste of Camarillo July 28

April Newsletter

Our 2007 Estate Zinfandel maybe at its best today (and our customers agree), perfect for spring drinking – we’re enjoying this wine with any meal. In fact, everyone of our customers who recently purchased the 2007 was very impressed with how beautifully it’s developed. Get yours, our special deal on this wine is still available… $20/bottle for orders of 6 or more… or, $20/bottle when you mix into a full case.

Read the rest of the newsletter - click here