An ancient Portuguese variety with a foothold in the New World, our version of Verdelho is a crisp, dry white wine with an array of nut and fruit flavors. The Vineyard and the Grape Located one thousand miles west of Portugal, the Azores are the home of the oldest stocks of the original Verdelho. It was here that Alta Mesa grower Ron Silva found the source wood for his labor of love, the Verdelho grape. Ron’s grandfather came to America in 1905, and Ron is the first in California to plant Verdelho. He currently offers the grapes to a handful of personally selected wineries.
An ancient Portuguese variety with a foothold in the New World, our version of Verdelho is a crisp, dry white wine with an array of nut and fruit flavors. The Vineyard and the Grape One thousand miles west of Portugal lie the Azores, the home of the oldest stocks of the original Verdelho. This is where Alta Mesa grower Ron Silva found the source wood for his labor of love, the Verdelho grape. Ron's grandfather came to America in 1905, and Ron is the first in California to plant Verdelho. He currently offers the grapes to a handful of personally selected wineries. Growing in its Azores home, Verdelho is essentially planted in rocks and is often blended with spirits produced from figs to make Angelica. Madeira was once produced from 70% Verdelho. Ron's Verdelho is planted on 101-14 and 1103 Paulsen rootstocks, and is on a quadrilateral, t-bar trellising system, with 11x6 spacing, resulting in 660 plants per acre. The vines are arranged in a North-South row orientation for even sun exposure. The shoots are heavily thinned to improve air flow, keeping mildew under control. The vineyard is farmed with sustainable methods, with natural composting, pumice and potassium additions, and treated with hybrid mustard to control bugs. Each row is individually watered as needed. Verdelho is an early ripening grape that favors a warm climate. The valley's heat is tempered by the afternoon winds that keep the area seven to eight degrees cooler than the surrounding Sacramento and Stockton regions. The Vintage Ron's farm in Lodi saw a growing season with normal temperatures and rainfall, but he harvested the grapes a bit earlier than usual. The yield was also dramatically smaller (only about 50% of the normal harvest). Ron noted the increased quality of the grapes, as well as a new level of refinement over previous years, demonstrating that the Verdelho vines of Silvaspoons Vineyard are "learning" progressively more every year about producing quality berries. Vinification and Aging Following a gentle whole cluster pressing, Verdelho is cold-fermented in stainless steel to preserve the freshness of the fruit. After fermentation, the wine is racked into three year-old French oak barrels for three months to soften the texture and add complexity. The wine was bottled in mid-March, 2008 to capture the bright flavors and crisp acidity. Aromas, Flavors & Palate Impressions This vintage sports a wide, bright character with aromas of fresh banana, peppermint, and roses, and the sensation of lemongrass, pear, pineapple, and Fuji apple on the palate. It is a well-rounded wine that is not light, but certainly not overbearing either. As it goes down crisply, it leaves fleeting whispers of its flavors and finishes off with a zesty acidity that lingers. This wine is well suited to many foods due to its high acidity, but especially suited to pair well with crab, seasoned poultry, and Mediterranean salads.
The 2008 Lee Family Farm Rosé is a pleasant, refreshing choice for summertime.
The Lee Family Farm Rose of 2007 is a pleasant and refreshing choice for summertime. The Vineyards and the Grape Lee Family Farm Rosé was produced from Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Grenache from Monterey and Santa Lucia Highlands appellation vineyards. Pinot Noir is 57% of the blend and gives the wine its acidity and elegance. Syrah is 29% and adds blackberry flavors with a hint of spice, while the remaining 14% Grenache brings in a strawberry flavor and a fruit punch-like aromatic quality. The Vintage 2007 saw harsher weather and climate conditions than in previous years. A relatively dry winter was followed a spring growing season characterized by cold, wet weather that caused the growing season to start late. The result was a small yield of high-quality grapes with a distinctly more intense personality. Vinification and Aging The wine is produced via the Saignée method of bleeding off free-run juice from freshly crushed grapes. Fermentation is finished in neutral barrels, and the blend was finished in early 2008. Aromas, Flavors & Palate Impressions Include strawberry, raspberry, peach, and watermelon with caramel and vanilla undertones. The broad flavor finishes off with just a hint of residual sugars and a laid-back, summer-fruit ripeness. This wine would go well with a wide variety of foods including summer salads, lightly flavored pork or poultry dishes, and fresh fish.
Monterey Grenache from the Lee Family Farm label is a limited bottling from the finest barrels of Grenache at Morgan Winery. The fruit is sourced from two vineyards: Scheid San Lucas in southern Monterey County where daytime temperatures reach the mid to upper 80’s. Los Ositos near the Salinas Valley town of Greenfield is closer to the Monterey Bay resulting in a milder growing season. Both vineyards are cooled by fog and wind drawn in from the cold water of the Monterey Bay. The combination of vineyard sites creates a complex wine with superior flavor and balance.
The best 2 barrels of Grenache in the winery were chosen for a separate bottling. The Vineyards and the Grape Lee Family Farm Grenache is from the Alta Loma Vineyard in the Monterey appellation. The Vintage 2006 was a long and cool vintage. The wines retained much of their natural acidity and show an outgoing, charming fruitiness. Vinification & Aging Grapes are hand-sorted in the vineyards and at the winery and are completely de-stemmed. Small, open top fermenters with manual punch downs are utilized for optimum extraction while maintaining an elegant structure. The primary fermentation finishes in 10-12 days. The wine is transferred to 1 year old Burgundy barrels for malo-lactic fermentation and 10 months of aging. The wine was bottled, unfined, in August 2006. Aromas, Flavors, and Palate Impressions Medium-purple/black color, the wine shows a perfume of blueberry jam, violets, pomegranate and mint with a hint of spice and pepper. The wine is medium in body and has a soft mid-palate, with supporting acidity and integrated tannins.
Rio Tinto is a dry, red table wine, produced from classic Portuguese Port varietals. The blend is 40% Touriga Francesa, 33% Touriga Nacional, 18% Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), and 9 % Alvarelhao.
Ron Silva is our source for this old world grape. His Silvaspoons Vineyard is in Alta Mesa, a sub-appellation of the Lodi AVA. The Silvaspoons Vineyard Tannat is planted on 101-14 rootstock. Rows are aligned north to south on a quadrilateral, T-bar trellising system enabling even sun exposure and good air flow. Sustainable farming methods result in a very healthy vineyard yielding very high quality grapes.
Nero d’Avola is a dry, red table wine from the primary red grape of Sicily, grown in Central California.
Our Sauvignon Blanc is a proprietary blending of the Sauvignon Musqué and classic Sauvignon Blanc clones. Sauvignon Musqué is a cultivar that we prize for its aromatic intensity and citrus, tropical fruit flavors. The classic Sauvignon Blanc clone offers typical sweet grass flavors. The use of grapes from two different growing areas – the cooler Arroyo Seco AVA and the warmer San Lucas AVA – result in balanced flavor and intensity. Semillon, another noble grape originally from Bordeaux, adds richness and depth. Monterey County experienced lighter than expected yields once again in 2008. Low winter rain fall, an April frost, and mild temperatures throughout the growing season combined for reduced crop and excellent fruit quality. Berry size was small, resulting in vibrant color and intense flavor and aromas. The must was tank fermented to preserve bright fruit flavors. Eighty-five percent of the wine was transferred to Taransaud Bordeaux barrels, of which only 8% were new, for four months of aging. The final blend was composed over several tastings of the individual lots; bottling was in March 2009. The Morgan 2008 Sauvignon Blanc features aromas of orange blossoms, lemon-lime and limestone. Flavors of tropical fruit and gooseberry are lively and refreshing. Oak aging lightly accents the bright acidity and adds an elegant texture. Try with shellfish, seafood, and Asian-Fusion cuisine with a touch of spicy heat...
Morgan Sauvignon Blanc showcases bright, citrus/gooseberry fruit with refreshing acidity. The Vineyards and the Grapes We build complexity into Sauvignon Blanc with addition of Semillon and liberal use of the Sauvignon Musqué clone. The Semillon adds richness and depth of flavor and is a counter to the herb and sweet grass character of Sauvignon Blanc. In 2007, Semillon comprised 15% of the blend. The Sauvignon Musqué is a clonal variety of Sauvignon Blanc that we prize for its aromatic intensity and gooseberry, citrus, tropical fruit, and melon flavors. Musqué has flourished in Monterey, and comprises 60% of this vintage. (Note: American wine labeling laws require 75% of a wine to be made of the stated variety. Sauvignon Musqué is a clone of Sauvignon Blanc, and is considered Sauvignon Blanc for labeling purposes.) Classic Sauvignon Blanc is the remaining 25% of the blend, and offers the traditional sweet grass flavors. Fruit from the cooler Arroyo Seco appellation builds complexity when blended with grapes from the warmer appellation of San Lucas. The Vintage This fine vintage was marked by a special twofold stress on the vines: after an unusually dry winter, the spring growing season was marked by cold, wet weather. The struggle of the vines against the climate produced a low yield of high-quality grapes with a noticeable increase of intensity compared to previous years. Vinification and Aging The wine is tank fermented to capture the bright fruit flavors. 85% of the must was transferred to Taransaud Bordeaux barrels, of which only 8% were new, for 5 months of aging. The barrel time develops complexity and texture. The blend is composed over several tastings and evaluations of the individual lots, with the final determination in the early spring. Bottling was in March 2008. Aromas, Flavors & Palate Impressions This medium-bodied wine features tightly focused flavors of green apples, citrus, and a light floral aroma, rounded out by sweet, grassy undertones characteristic of Sauvignon Blanc. Oak aging offsets overly aggressive flavors and adds an elegant texture. The 2007 Monterey Sauvignon Blanc would make a fine compliment to Caesar salads, assorted crustaceans, poultry, and light pork dishes.
Morgan Sauvignon Blanc showcases bright, citrus/gooseberry fruit with refreshing acidity.
The Santa Lucia Highland’s cool climate is very well suited to Pinot Gris. The R&D Franscioni Vineyard is the exclusive source of the grapes for this wine.
The Santa Lucia Highland's cool climate is very well suited to Pinot Gris. The R&D Franscioni Vineyard is the exclusive source of the grapes for this wine. The Vineyard The R&D Franscioni Vineyard is directly across from Rosella's Vineyard in the northern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands on sandy loam soils on the east-facing bench lands overlooking the Salinas Valley. The Santa Lucia Highlands region is rated Zone 1 (coolest) on the UC Davis scale and summer daytime high temperatures average in the mid-70's. The Vintage Although 2007 saw the typically cool, windy growing period of the Santa Lucia Highlands, this vintage retains a more intense flavor due to unusually high stress on the vines from an unusually dry winter preceding a cold, wet spring. Vinification and Aging Following a gentle whole cluster pressing, Pinot Gris is cold fermented in stainless steel to preserve the freshness of the fruit. After fermentation, the wine is racked into three year-old French oak barrels for three months to soften the texture slightly and add complexity without oak flavors. The wine was bottled in March 2008 to capture the bright flavors and crisp acidity. Aromas, Flavors & Palate Impressions Fruity flavors of orange blossoms, grapefruits, mangos, peaches, and pear are balanced by nutmeg and a hint of minerals. This medium-bodied, broadly focused wine stays light on its feet as it goes down with a crisp, dry character and leaves a lingering presence on the palate. This wine would compliment boldly flavored foods such as pesto, shellfish, ceviche, and chicken dishes.
The Santa Lucia Highland's cool climate is well suited to Pinot Gris. The R&D Franscioni Vineyard is the exclusive source of the grapes for this wine.
Metallico is Chardonnay in its purest form, without an overlay of oak to mask any of its pure fruit expression. The aromatics, intense fruit character, and bright acidity, much like a classic French Chablis, are the goals here. This vintage of Metallico is composed of fruit from the Arroyo Seco appellation. The climate there is slightly warmer than our Highlands estate and produces a Chardonnay that is more floral with intense tropical fruit. The Musque clone, selected from the Roger Rose Vineyard, brings the floral notes to Metallico. We also sourced grapes from the historic Mission Ranch Vineyard, utilizing clones 4 and 17. In 2008, Monterey County experienced lighter than expected yields from its vineyards. Low winter rainfall, an unusual April frost, and mild temperatures throughout the growing season combined for lighter crop loads and excellent fruit quality. Berry size was small, resulting in great color and intensity in aromas and flavors. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes were whole-cluster pressed. After pressing, the juice was cold tank fermented, retaining the essential bright tropical fruit and floral characteristics. The wine was not allowed to go through a secondary, malo-lactic process and saw no oak aging, thus preserving the natural acidity and fruit. Metallico’s aromatics are intense with green apples and lemon lime at the fore, complemented by orange blossoms and lavender. The palate has ripe fruit flavors of nectarine, pear and honeydew melon. Crisp, food-friendly acidity keeps this special wine refreshing and bright. A perfect match for shellfish, Asian-Fusion cuisine, or any dishes with a touch of spicy heat...
2007 represents our seventh vintage of Metallico Chardonnay. Our goal is to produce a pure, unadorned Chardonnay that showcases the region's terroir, with bright, intense fruit and crisp acidity.
2006 Represents our sixth vintage of the bright, fresh styled, tank-fermented Metallico Chardonnay. Our goal is to product a pure, unadorned Chardonnay that showcases the region's terroir, with bright, intense fruit and crisp acidity. The Vineyards The 2006 Metallico is primarily composed of fruit from the Arroyo Seco appellation, and also includes fruit from the winery’s Double L Vineyard, and its neighbor, the Lucia Highlands Vineyard, in the Santa Lucia Highlands. The backbone of the wine is the Chardonnay Musque clone, chosen for its aromatic complexity and clear expression of Chardonnay fruit. The Vintage The 2006 vintage ran about a month later than normal, due to a cold, wet spring that delayed the fruit set. The summer weather was typical for the region. The Chardonnay harvest continued into mid-November, with average crop loads showing intensely flavored fruit that retained much of its natural acidity. Vinification & Aging Metallico is cold-tank fermented to retain the essential bright fruit that cool climate Chardonnay offers. Whole cluster pressing produces a clean, high-quality must. Cold tank fermentation followed settling. The wine was racked to neutral three year-old French barrels for brief aging and lees stirring to soften it and add complexity without adding oak character. The wine does not go through malo-lactic fermentation, so it retains all of its natural crispness. Aromas & Flavors Include apricot, green apple, lemon, creamy, orange blossoms, nectarine, mineral, and honey. The wine finishes crisply with a mineral note and a moderately creamy texture, and works well with poultry and other light fare.
With each vintage of Highland Chardonnay we showcase the unique attributes of our Double L Vineyard and the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. The 2007 cuvee includes 40% fruit from the Double L and the balance from outstanding neighboring estates in the SLH, including Rosella’s and McIntyre. The Double L Vineyard has been “Certified Organic” since 2002 but has been conscientiously farmed in this method since the original plantings in 1997. Although ‘07 was typically cool and windy, this vintage shows a lot of intensity due to high stress on the vines from the dry winter preceding a cold, wet spring. Summer and fall were uneventful, resulting in normal hang-time and gentle ripening. The grapes are hand picked and sorted in the vineyard. Whole cluster pressing preserves the fruit flavors and natural acidity. We barrel ferment the must in new French oak (35%) and a combination of one & two year old and neutral barrels. Partial malo-lactic fermentation insures the wine will have a creamy richness balanced by bright fruit acidity. This focused, elegant Chardonnay’s aromas showcase tropical fruit, ripe pear, green apple, and nutmeats. On the palate, the rich fruit flavors are complemented by a light touch of butterscotch and refreshing minerality and bright acidity. Incredibly food-friendly, the 2007 Highlands Chardonnay is a perfect match with cream-sauced pastas, roast chicken and pork, and seafood...
The goal at Morgan is to produce a balanced, classically styled Chardonnay that is faithful to the grape and its Santa Lucia Highlands origin. The Vineyards Some very fine Santa Lucia Highlands vineyards are sourced for this wine. The primary one is our own Double L Vineyard, which contributes 55% of the blend. There are 6 different Chardonnay clones, planted densely, to 6x5 spacing. It is organically farmed and is the major contributor of complexity and minerality to the wine. The Chardonnay clones at Double L are Dijon clones 95, 96, and 76, 4 (Martini), 15 (Swiss), and 108 (Hillside). Additional sources in the Santa Lucia Highlands include Rosella’s, Vinco, Black Mountain, and the Lucia Highlands vineyards. The strong Salinas Valley winds concentrate flavors by thickening grape skins and lengthening the growing season. The Vintage The 2006 vintage started late and ran about a month later than normal, due to a cold, wet spring that delayed the fruit set. The summer weather was typical for the region. The Chardonnay harvest commenced on October 6, and did not finish until November 10, with average crop loads showing intensely flavored fruit that retained much of its natural acidity. Vinification & Aging The grapes were whole cluster pressed to preserve the primary fruit flavors. The must was barrel fermented in 30% new French oak. Some lots were allowed to ferment in tank down to 7 or 8 brix, then transferred to barrel to finish. The wine is aged on the lees, with monthly stirrings over a 9-month period. Sixty-five percent of the wine underwent malo-lactic fermentation to soften the acidity and enrich the mouth feel. A month before bottling, the wine was racked off the lees, and the blend was assembled. Aromas & Flavors Include pineapple, lemongrass, butterscotch, nuttiness, lime, a hint of green tea, pear, walnut, and minerals. This wine shows richness and intensity, and the splendid integration of fruit flavors, oak, minerality and acidity that is a hallmark of well-made Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnays.
The “Twelve Clones” Pinot Noir is drawn from the finest vineyards of the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation, including Morgan’s own organically farmed “Double L” estate. In the 2007 vintage the Double L accounted for 44% of the final blend. The “Twelve Clones” designation denotes the original diverse Pinot plantings at the Double L. Vines here capture the warm morning sunshine from their elevated east facing terraces overlooking the Salinas River Valley. Strong afternoon winds and evening fog from nearby Monterey Bay create a cool Region I type climate. The resulting long growing season allows for gentle ripening, creating intense flavors with balanced acidity. The ‘07 vintage is one of the finest from the Highlands. High stress from a dry winter and cool, wet spring resulted in a 40% decrease in crop production. Summer and fall presented ideal ripening conditions for good hang-time and a clean harvest. The grapes were picked then hand-sorted in the vineyard. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes are sorted a second time before being destemmed. Whole berry fermentation is started using native yeasts in small open top tanks. Three times each day the cap is gently punched down by hand. After fermentation, the wine was transferred into a combination of new and one and two year-old French cooperage. The wine aged for almost a year before being bottled. This special wine demonstrates the power and finesse of Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands. It displays aromas of red cherries, cola, rose petals and spicy earth tones. Flavors of red cherries and berries are complemented by notes of toast, vanilla, leather, and spice. This Pinot’s perfectly poised fruit / acid balance makes it incredibly food-versatile. It is a wonderful accompaniment to roast chicken and grilled salmon, as well as almost any duck, beef, or lamb preparation...
Twelve Clones is Morgan Winery's primary Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir.
Twelve Clones is Morgan Winery’s Santa Lucia Highlands appellation blend Pinot Noir.
Cotes du Crow’s is Morgan’s blend of the two predominant southern Rhone red varieties.
We are enthusiastic about the current and future quality of Syrah grown in the cool climate of Monterey. Several vineyard sources in the Salinas Valley have been selected for their contributions to our rich and powerful, smooth and supple style. The Vineyards Morgan Syrah is sourced from Santa Lucia Highlands, Arroyo Seco, and San Lucas appellations. The cooler climate SLH fruit adds acidity and bright fruitiness, with the warmer climate sources providing structure and concentration. Overnight low temperatures are similar in these appellations, with the more southerly vineyards experiencing warmer daytime highs.
The Double L Vineyard is well situated to produce Chardonnay of the highest caliber. Located near the northern tip of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, the vineyard receives brisk afternoon breezes from the Monterey Bay. North-south vineyard row orientation allows for optimum exposure on The Highlands’ east facing terraces. Wind and sun combine for a long growing season, resulting in vibrant fruit flavors with balanced acidity. The vineyard was certified organic in 2002, although it has been conscientiously farmed in this method since the original plantings in 1997. The growing season started slowly in 2009; cool, wet weather in late spring delayed the fruit by 5 - 10 days. August was more temperate, with less fog than normal. Warm weather allowed sugars to catch up, but not necessarily flavor. Patience was key in determining when to harvest; we began to pick Double L on September 15th. The grapes are picked when the flavor and acid balance is optimal. Hand sorted grapes are gently pressed as whole clusters to yield the highest quality juice. Then, the juice is fermented in the finest French oak barrels: 33% new and a combination of one & two year old barrels. Malo-lactic fermentation and lees stirring is performed to obtain the Morgan balance: creaminess with bright tropical fruit and minerality. Lemon, butter and pear aromas are given character by the sweet spice of lightly toasted oak. One of the finest food wines, orange blossoms and hazelnuts are deftly accompanied by a smooth creaminess which will be well served with flavorful seafood and poultry dishes as well as a buttery steak.
Rosella’s Vineyard, owned and farmed by Gary Franscioni and named for his wife, is one of the most famous estates in the Santa Lucia Highlands. It has provided both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to Morgan for many years. Located just south of our own Double L Vineyard, Rosella’s was planted in 1996 to several Dijon clones at 1089 vines per acre.
For years we have valued the consistent quality of Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot Noir. Located three miles south of our own Double L estate, Rosella’s is one of the top Pinot Noir vineyards in California. Planted in ‘96 to several Dijon clones as well as the famed “Pisoni” clone, Rosella’s benefits from the eastern exposure of its Santa Lucia Highlands benchland location. Fog and cooling breezes from Monterey Bay combined with welldrained alluvial soils make-up Rosella’s famed terroir.
While cleaning out our winery warehouse to make room for the 2011 harvest, we came across five cases of specially blended 2007 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir that was labeled "Lone Star" for a Texas-based fundraiser. The event did not use as much wine as anticipated, so we decided to save it for a special occasion.
Rosella's Vineyard, farmed by Gary Franscioni and his wife Rosella, has provided both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to the winery for a number of years. Wines from Rosella's have always been excellent and distinctive.
Tondre Grapefield is the result of Tondre Alarid’s desire to establish a vineyard, and his son Joe Alarid’s resolve to produce world-class wine grapes. The vineyard is next door to Garys’ Vineyard on the east facing terrace of the Santa Lucia Highlands. Northwest-southeast orientated rows take advantage of daily fog and wind events from the Monterey Bay.
Our Double L estate in the northern part of the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation is widely regarded as one of the best vineyards for growing world-class Pinot Noir. Planted on east facing terraces overlooking the Salinas River Valley, the north-south vineyard row orientation provides optimum sun exposure and access to the strong afternoon breezes. The winds moderate the afternoon temperature, thickening the grape skins and concentrating flavors. The vineyard has been Certified Organic since 2002 and remains the only such vineyard in the appellation.
Morgan Tierra Mar demonstrates the power and elegance capable from Syrah grown in the Santa Lucia Highlands. The grapes for this Morgan Syrah was selected from Morgan’s Double L Vineyard as well as Fairview Road Ranch Vineyard. Fairview Road Ranch Vineyard was planted in 2000 with NW-SE row orientation at 807 vines per acre, Fairview is one of the finest Syrah vineyards in the Highlands. Located on East facing terraces, the vineyard receives exceptional sun exposure and strong afternoon breezes which moderate the afternoon temperature and thicken grape skins. The result is clean, quality fruit with intense flavors and balanced acidity.
Cool climate Syrah offers dense, dark fruit flavors with peppery spice and balanced acidity. Morgan, long known for our fine Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, has mastered the art of crafting limited bottlings of Syrah. The 2008 Monterey Syrah is sourced from a collection of vineyards in northern Monterey appellations. Santa Lucia Highlands’ vineyards contributed 52% to this blend, including our own “certified organic” Double L Vineyard, and the rest of the cuvee was sourced from the Arroyo Seco and Monterey appellations.
Save 10% on all magnum bottles online and at Taste Morgan. Offer valid December 4th through December 18th, 2011 and may not be combined with any other discount.
