Artfully crafted wines made with the finest grapes from our vineyards in the Arroyo Seco appellation of Monterey County
Our Wines
We honor each vineyard’s unique characteristics by fermenting and aging the individual vineyard blocks separately, highlighting these characteristics throughout the oak aging process, and blending the components into a balanced, harmonious wine.
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Chardonnay
An opulent wine that balances exuberant tropical fruit with elegance and complexity.
Vineyards: Suter, Twin Oaks, Zanetta
Bouquet: Aromas of crème brûlée and rich tropical fruit
Palate: Elegant, rich, balanced
Finish: A touch of buttered toast and fresh diced pineapple -
Pinot Noir
A silky wine with lush fruit with a classical structure and a lingering finish.
Vineyards: Suter, Wiley
Bouquet: Bright pomegranate, ripe red berries
Palate: Medium-bodied, silky, complex
Finish: Extended, dried flowers, cherry jam, and subtle cedar notes
Winemaker’s Notes
Chardonnay Arroyo Seco,
Monterey 2021
The 2021 harvest in the Arroyo Seco was a long cool growing season; the extended hang time helped create rich and developed flavors in Chardonnay while maintaining a crisp and fresh palate.
Free-run juice from individual vineyard blocks was fermented separately.
The wine was aged for 10 months in a mix of new (20%) and seasoned (80%) American & French oak barrels on the lees, with regular stirring, adding complexity and a creamy texture.
The wine then went through secondary malolactic fermentation, adding rich, buttery characteristics.
Pinot Noir Arroyo Seco,
Monterey 2020
The 2020 harvest was one of the latest in the last twenty years for growers in the Arroyo Seco. The relatively cool spring and summer pushed back harvest, allowing for a gradual ripening process while retaining lush fruit flavors and crisp acids. Development of color was earlier than physiological maturity which resulted in strong concentration.
Field destemmed.
Free-run juice from individual vineyard blocks fermented separately in stainless steel tanks, resulting in 10 distinct fermentations.
Aged for ten months in new & seasoned French oak barrels, racked once prior to bottling.
Acclaim
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91 Points
Fogscape 2021 Chardonnay Arroyo Seco, Monterey
A full-scale A Chardonnay with significant oak toast but also ripe fruit and an undertone of roasted nuts in the bouquet. It possesses flavorful fruit with a tropical character and a suggestion of peaches, which helps achieve good balance.
Michael Franz, November 2024
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91 Points
Fogscape 2020 Chardonnay Arroyo Seco, Monterey
Clean and fresh aromas of chalk, peach and daffodil kick off the nose of this bottling. There's a pleasantly light toast flavor to the sip, where chalky lines of texture and a zippy acidity are paired with a lemon rind element.
Matt Kettmann, April 1, 2022
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90 Points
Fogscape 2021 Pinot Noir Arroyo Seco, Monterey
Subdued aromas of muddy clay and turned earth give nuance to the light cherry tone on the nose of this bottling. The palate is clean with cherry, strawberry, and light clove flavors, as a chiseled rock element adds depth.
Matt Kettman, September, 2024
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91 Points
Fogscape 2020 Pinot Noir Arroyo Seco, Monterey
Sliced strawberries with lemon, as well as raspberries on both the nose and palate. Medium-bodied with a tar undertone to the fruit. Light finish with just a hint of austerity, in a good sense. Drink now.
April 7, 2022
The Team
Jose Ramirez - Winemaking
First generation Californian, Winemaker Jose Ramirez took an unexpected detour on his plans to study medicine when he found his true calling during a college harvest internship. Fascinated by the way in which vineyard practices carried through to the finishes wine, Jose embarked on a vineyard-driven approach to winemaking by working closely with the vineyard team to monitor grape quality throughout the vintage. With a passion for the world of wine, he enjoys talking about wine, sharing it with friends, and learning more about it. Jose is currently pursuing advanced WSET certification. In his time away from the cellar, Jose likes to hike along the Monterey Coast and to travel to wineries near and far where he gets to experience the depth and breadth of wines across the globe.
Roger Moitoso - Vineyards
Monterey County native and Vice President of Vineyard Operations Roger Moitoso owes his in-depth knowledge of the area’s growing conditions and soils to decades of experience. Working in collaboration with our winemaking team, he ensures that each of our wines expresses the special character of our vineyards. Roger believes that sustainable viticultural practices are not only better for the environment but produce better grapes. His love of nature is reflected in his skills as an accomplished hunter and avid outdoorsman. A talented gourmet grill chef, Roger is known for the outstanding meals he produces from the vintage grill at the scenic Vaquero Block on Wiley Ranch Vineyard.
The Arroyo Seco Appellation
The Arroyo Seco American Viticultural Area (AVA) is located near Greenfield in Monterey County. Spanning 18,000 acres with half planted to vines, it’s one of California’s smallest growing areas. Though the area is less well known than the adjoining Santa Lucia Highlands, Arroyo Seco wines are increasingly gaining recognition for excellence, A cool maritime climate, ample sunshine, shaded canyons, and rocky soils produce wines with structure, balance, and finesse.
Our Vineyards
