San Miguel District - Wine Region of the Day

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San Miguel District

The San Miguel AVA is located in the north central portion of the original Paso Robles appellation and is named for the Mission San Miguel Arcángel, the Franciscan Mission created in the late 1700s.  Marine influence is not much of a factor in the San Miguel appellation.  Precipitation is relatively sparse due to the region being located in the rain shadow of the the Santa Lucia mountain range.  It receives 11.4 inches of precipitation per year.  The area is also warmer than many of the Paso Robles sub-appellations and averages 3,300-3,400 Growing Degree Days.  This makes San Miguel the third warmest area in the region.  The elevations in the region range from 580 to 1,600 feet above sea level and is crossed by both the Estrella and the Salinas River.  The geology at some of the higher elevations are characterized by granites and Monterey Shale which are then eroded into alluvial soils which are deep in the benches, terraces and floodplains.  Grapes being produced in the region include: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Zinfandel.

2013 Nobelle Wines Carmenère - Wine of the Day

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2013 Nobelle Wines Carmenère

 2013 Nobelle Wines Carmenère

$39.00

Colbert in San Miguel is one of the only vineyards to carry the varietal in the region. Carmenère always ripens late; mid-October to mid-November is the usual picking time. The leaves turn black in fall, which is very surprising and rare! 100% Carmenère.

Ahhh Carmenère! I never worked with it in France and always liked the Argentinian/Chilean style that was easy to achieve here, thanks to the growing conditions in 2013. The fruit came cleanly to the winery and right after crushing (less than 24 hours later) we inoculated the batch with classic Bordeaux yeast. After press we moved the wine to a Le Roi pungeon where it aged for 24 months. 76 cases produced.

This varietal has a light and delicate perfume. The density of the wine is very interesting, a lot of weight, followed by long and smooth spice. It will go perfectly with a rack of lamb with rosemary or similar, the simpler the better!

2013 Nobelle Wines Carmenère - Wine of the Day

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2013 Nobelle Wines Carmenère

$39

This varietal has a light and delicate perfume. The density of the wine is very interesting, a lot of weight, followed by long and smooth spice. It will go perfectly with a rack of lamb with rosemary or similar, the simpler the better!  

Colbert in San Miguel is one of the only vineyards to carry the varietal in the region. Carmenère always ripens late; mid-October to mid-November is the usual picking time. The leaves turn black in fall, which is very surprising and rare! 100% Carmenère.

Paso Robles - Wine Region of the Day

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Paso Robles

Photo of Paso Robles by David Toomey for Qorkz. 

Paso Robles received its designation as an AVA in 1983. Sitting on 666,618 acres in San Luis Obispo County, Paso Robles is home to eleven sub-districts, including: Adelaida District, Creston District, El Pomar District, Paso Robles Estrella District, Paso Robles Geneseo District, Paso Robles Highlands District, Paso Robles Willow Creek District, San Juan Creek, San Miguel District, Santa Margarita Ranch, and Templeton Gap District. By far the largest region in San Luis Obispo County, Paso Robles has over 19,000 acres under vine. The region features a mixture of silica clay and chalky lime soils. Closer to the Pacific, the western edge of Paso Robles has warm daytime temperatures, often topping 90 degrees during the peak of the growing season. The grapes are cooled by the maritime breezes coming in off the Pacific Ocean. Moving east across the region, the climate becomes more aired and drier than its western counterpart. In the east, fruit ripens more quickly than in the west, giving it bright flavors with low acidity and tannin structure. The more famous western region features a longer growing season allowing the fruit to take its time to ripen and develop a balance of acidity and tannin. Cabernet Sauvignon is the varietal that is most prevalent in the eastern regions of Paso Robles while Rhone varietals such as Viognier and Syrah dominate the west. In all, there are over 40 grape varietals grown in Paso Robles, and the region has become well known for its blends.