Sierra Madre Vineyard

Owner(s)	Doug Circle, Jan Circle
Web site	www.sierramadrevineyard.com

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Winery owners Doug and Jan Circle source grapes for their wines from their own Sierra Madre Vineyard. Most of the vineyard's Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes are sold to other wineries such as Au Bon Climate, Byron Vineyard & Winery, Hitching Post, Ken Brown, Kenneth Volk, Lane Tanner, Paul Lato, Row Eleven, Rusack Vineyards, and Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards. The vineyard, which was planted in 1971, and is located in the Santa Maria Valley, was purchased from Michael Mondavi in 2003.

The winemaker was Steve Rasmussen until 2012 when veteran Central Coast winemaker Lane Tanner was hired. Tanner has experience with the vineyard going back 30 years, having made wine for the Hitching Post and Lane Tanner brands beginning in 1984.

The Sierra Madre Vineyard brands produces only estate-grown wines including Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir. There is limited retail distribution of Sierra Madre Vineyard Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.

Articles About Sierra Madre Vineyard

Pinot Briefs (8.35 4/11/2011)
Pinot Briefs (9.5 4/4/2012)
Sips of 2006 California Pinot Noirs (7.21 7/9/2009)

Reviewed Wines

2006 Sierra Madre Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

14.9% alc., 1,772 cases, $40. Winery owners Doug and Jan Circle source grapes for their wines from their own Sierra Madre Vineyard. The vineyard, which was planted in 1971, was purchased from Michael Mondavi in 2003. The winemaker is Steve Rasmussen. Clones were vinified separately. Aged in 35% new French oak barrels. · Deep reddish-violet color. The plentiful oak overwhelms the ripe cherry fruit on the nose. Prodigious fruit with touches of cola, herbs and oak. Soft and smooth with a mouth filling presence and admirable acidity. The oak takes over in the glass over time. A man’s Pinot Noir that will appeal especially to oak lovers. Reviewed July 9, 2009 ARTICLE »