Flying Goat Cellars

Articles About Flying Goat Cellars

Reviewed Wines

2009 Flying Goat Goat Bubbles Santa Maria Valley Sparkling Brut Rosé

12.7% alc., pH 3.09, no RS, 240 cases, $32. Released December 2010. Whole cluster pressed, and vinified as if to be a still rosé. After 8 months of aging in neutral French Oak barrels, the wine was decanted into sparkling wine bottles, a tirage of sugar and yeast added and a crown cap applied. Secondary fermentation continued in the bottle. The wine was disgorged after 5 months of aging and riddling. · Attractive pink coral color in the glass. Aromatically pleasing scents of strawberries, roses and a hint of yeast. Crisp, bright and dry, with flavors of red berries (cranberries, strawberries), melon and a hint of vanilla. A thoroughly enjoyable sparkling wine and unique in its origins. Very Good. Reviewed August 13, 2011 ARTICLE »

2008 Flying Goat Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

14.3% alc., pH 3.50, TA 0.68, 216 cases, $44. Released September 2010. The 161-acre Dierberg Vineyard was planted in 1997 at the southern end of the Santa Maria Valley. A blend of clone 115 and 31 (Martini). Last vintage of this wine for Flying Goat. Aged 14 months in 30% new French oak barrels and bottle aged an additional 9 months. · Moderately deep reddish-purple color in the glass. On the nose there are loamy dark fruits with hints of sawdust and mocha. Medium weighted and slightly sweet dark stone fruits make up the theme. The wine is earthy and modestly tannic with a silky presence. The impression is fruit rather than nuance. Unchanged the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Good. Reviewed August 13, 2011 ARTICLE »

2008 Flying Goat Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

14.8% alc., pH 3.69, TA 0.65, 103 cases, $46. This vineyard is owned by Bill Foley of Foley Family Wines and is actually more like a quilt of many small vineyards, as each block has been planted to match the right variety, rootstock and clone for each particular slope and soil type. This wine is from the heart of the vineyard and is Dijon clone 667. · Moderately deep color in the glass. Very aromatic with showy aromas of black cherries, black plums and a hint of spice and oak. The flavors echo the nose. Modestly endowed and smoothly textured with hints of cardamon spice, raisins and oak in the background on the long finish. Unchanged the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Good (+). Reviewed August 13, 2011 ARTICLE »

2007 Flying Goat Rio Vista Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Clone 115 Pinot Noir

(barrel sample) · Sappy young fruit on the nose, probably not finished MLF. LEGS in the glass. Rich, round, laser pure, dark fruits. Fine length and integrated acid and tannin. Very promising. Reviewed March 23, 2008 ARTICLE »

2005 Flying Goat Rio Vista Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Dijon Clones Pinot Noir

Dark color, dark fruits and herbs, prominent oak. Huge and glycerol-sweet. Finish more open with time in glass. Reviewed March 23, 2008 ARTICLE »

2005 Flying Goat Cellars Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

14.6% alc., 425 cases, $42. Norm Yost produces small lots of several Pinot Noirs from vineyards in Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County. He is a true garagiste with a small winery in the Lompoc “wine ghetto.” He has been at it for many years, knows what he is doing, and his wines have been consistently fine in recent years. · Nice clean mineral infused cherry fruit on the entry which follows through to the finish. Not particularly complex but well-crafted, harmonious and easy to drink. Reviewed December 16, 2007 ARTICLE »

2005 Flying Goat Cellars Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

($42) · Every bit as good as the Rancho Santa Rosa bottling and still available. The Dierberg is aromatically stylish with a palate which is soft, plush, long and tasty. Flat out beautiful. Oh, the Dierberg also won a Gold Medal in the same competition. Reviewed March 5, 2007 ARTICLE »

2005 Flying Goat Cellars Rancho Santa Rosa Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir

$44. This wine won the Red Wine Sweepstakes Award at the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (now sold out not surprisingly). · Reviewed March 5, 2007 ARTICLE »

2005 Flying Goat Cellars Rio Vista Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

$45. · Reviewed July 23, 2007 ARTICLE »

2004 Flying Goat Cellars Rio Vista Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

$45. · Both 2004 and 2005 wines exhibit beautifully balance with scrumptious cherry fruit and deft touch of oak. They both have lovely depth and richness of flavor that carries over to a finish of great persistence. Highly recommended. Reviewed July 23, 2007 ARTICLE »