Jeff’s Letter From November 2025

We crushed the last of the 2025 grapes on Tuesday. The “caboose” was the Graciano and Grenache from Steve Carter’s Three Way Vineyard in Paso Robles. Like last year, we crushed twenty-seven different varieties from twenty-seven different growers. We started on August 22nd and were at it for sixty days, our second longest crush in our twenty-six-year history.

This year’s crush was calm, cool, and collected. The grapes came at us in a metered fashion, and we did not have to endure any ‘Herculean’ days. It helps when the cellar staff is seasoned, and we ran with the same seven guys this year as we did last. It was good to see the teamwork that developed last year grow again this season. The equipment ran smoothly, and everyone made it through without any mishaps. The grapes did their part and ripened well, held onto more acid than usual, and provided tremendous color. Put 2025 in the stellar harvest column. I returned the rental truck yesterday and it was hard to believe this vintage was in the books. It seems like it just started.

Our November releases are the same as last year. There are two Zinfandels, one from Tom Dillian’s Vineyard on Steiner Road and the other from Dick Cooper’s Vineyard. Both wines are big and juicy with plenty of dark berry Zinfandel character, perfect for the cooling weather and the stews and braises that are on the horizon. We have also two softer reds, the Cabernet Franc from the Salman Vineyard on Sutter Island and the Sisters Vineyard Los Carneros Pinot Noir. The Explorer Club addition is the Nebbiolo from Terri Harvey’s Original Grandpére Vineyard. Relatively new for us, we are anxious to get your reaction to our take on Nebbiolo.

Cheers,
Jeff