Vineyard: Dierberg

OwnersJim Dierberg, Mary Dierberg
AppellationSanta Maria Valley
StoryFoggy mornings, clearing by noon, often fierce afternoon sea breezes.
Dates PlantedEstablished in 1996
Acres162 of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
AspectSouthern flank of the Santa Maria Valley with a gentle sloping northwest-facing exposure.
SoilsRed-toned Garey sandy loam series
VarietiesChardonnay, Pinot Noir

Reviewed wines produced from this vineyard

2015 Siduri Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., 194 cases, $55, screwcap. · Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. A love able nose, with hi-tone aromas of redder fruits, potpourri and bark. Very charming in the mouth, with vivid flavors of earth-kissed cherry and strawberry backed by genteel tannins. Impeccably balanced with a compelling finish. This wine exudes charisma and is quintessential Central Coast in character. Score: 94. Reviewed May 7, 2017 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2014 Migration Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay

14.1% alc., 162 cases, $55. Released March 2016. · Light golden yellow color in the glass. The nose is more expressive than the palate, offering bright aromas of lemon peel, spice, vanilla creme and caramel. Somewhat reserved and even austere in the mouth, with flavors of lemon and brioche. The mouthwatering acidity really sticks out. Score: 89. Reviewed August 17, 2016 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2013 Dierberg Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay

14.6% alc., $32. Dierberg Vineyard is located 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean at the southern end of the Santa Maria Valley. California heritage Chardonnay clones. Wine barrel fermented in 400 liter casks, 15% new. Malolactic fermentation only in certain components. Aged 16 months in French oak barrels and 4 months in stainless. · Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. A striking wine that achieves greatness over time in the glass. Lovely aromas of lemon curd, Golden Delicious apple, and subtle notes of butter and oak. Flavors of lemon, pear, and yellow apple are presented with a streamlined mouthfeel that culminates in a tight, crisp, citrus-laden finish. Perfectly balanced and ideal in every way. Score: 95. Reviewed September 7, 2016 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2013 Dierberg Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

14.8% alc., $44. Stem inclusion higher than used previously from Dierberg Vineyard. Aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 25% new. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. More sap in this mid weight plus wine, featuring a melange of aromas and flavors including black cherry, blackberry jam, spice, black tea, dark cocoa and a hint of toasty oak. Despite its heft, the wine is quite charming, combining intensity of flavor with a refined style. The grand finish is replete with a generous array of dark fruits, leaving behind just a hint of alcoholic heat. Score: 92. Reviewed September 7, 2016 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2012 Flying Goat Cellars Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

14.7% alc., pH 3.65, TA 0.59, 304 cases, $46. Released October 4, 2014. This 161-acre vineyard was planted in 1997 in mostly sandy loam soils. Clone 115. Harvest Brix 24.7º. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Intense perfume of oakkissed berries, cherries and raisin. The mid weight core of dark red and black berries are framed by a nutty oak overlay that is not oppressive. The tannins are gentle, and there is some length on the finish. A bit too ripe for my taste, but well crafted in this style. Score: 89. Reviewed October 2, 2016 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2012 Migration Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay

14.3% alc., 288 cases, $55. · Light golden yellow color and clear in the glass. Aromatically alive with scents of lemon curd, green apple, nutty oak and vanilla. Very easy to like with an appealingly viscous texture and good flavor intensity. Plenty of lemon and stone fruits propel the juicy finish. Clearly, the Central Coast is one of the most underrated sources for Chardonnay. Score: 91. Reviewed July 19, 2014 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2011 Dierberg Estate Grown Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay

13.5% alc. pH 3.15, $32. The Dierberg Vineyard is situated on a sandy loam mesa above the South Bank of the Santa Maria River in the near-extreme Western part of the Santa Maria Valley AVA. This cool site combined with the sandy, marine-based soils, creates Chardonnay with high acidity. Brix at harvest was 24.5º. No skin contact. Primary fermentation was carried out in 400 liter barrels of which 25% were new. Less than 10% of the wine went through malolactic fermentation. The wine was age 10 months, racked from its lees, blended, lightly fined, unfiltered and bottled after harvest. · Light golden yellow color and clear in the glass. The nose is appealing with scents of apple, lemon, brown butter, nuts and straw bale. Smooth on the palate with very agreeable crisp flavors of lemon tart, green apple, and lime zest. There is a definite oak imprint which adds to the complexity. Score: 89. Reviewed October 27, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2010 Dierberg Estate Grown Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., pH 3.52, $44. Dierberg Vineyard is planted with 11 different Pinot Noir clones. Brix at harvest was 25º. Aged in 33% new French oak barrels for 18 months and bottled unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas and flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, black currant, spice, tea leaf and oak-driven accents of tobacco, toast and herbs. The tannins are well managed, the mouth feel is smooth and comforting, and the finish is clean and uplifting. A slight green pepper background note was evident in this wine. Score: 87. Reviewed October 27, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 Dierberg “Steven” Estate Grown Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., pH 3.62, $65. Dierberg Vineyard is located on top a sandy loam mesa above the South Bank of the Santa Maria River. “Steven,” named after the Dierberg’s first grandson, is sourced from areas of loamy clay near the western edge of the vineyard (“sweet spot”) that produce wines with more power and structure. Brix at harvest 25.9º. De-stemmed but not crushed. Long maceration of 21 days with pump over regimen reduced one short mixing per day. Aged 17 months in 100% new Francois Frères oak puncheons. Clarity fined and unfiltered. · Moderately dark purple color in the glass. The nose is reluctant to reveal itself, slowly offering aromas of black cherries and black berries with forest floor notes and some smoky oak. Soft, structured and full-bodied on the palate with oak-kissed black cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate, and earthy, grilled mushroom flavors. The tannins are firm and dry. The wine is consistent with the Dierberg style from this vineyard, but ramped up a bit in concentration. At present the fruit is buried in the oak topcoat, but this should largely resolve over time in the bottle. About the same the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. A terroir-driven wine that is well crafted in its style. Very good. Reviewed May 5, 2013 WINERY » 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 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 Dierberg Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

14.9% alc.. · Deeply colored. A rich and full-bodied Pinot featuring generous dark berry fruits that have a plush feel on the palate. The nose is reluctant with faint dark fruits and subtle herbal oak. The core of fruit is downright delicious and the soft tannins make for easy drinking. Good. Reviewed September 23, 2008 WINERY »

2006 Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

14.9% alc., $42. The Dierberg Vineyard is located 14 miles from the Pacific coast at the southern end of the Santa Maria Valley. Dierberg is a family owned winery founded in 2001 producing hand-crafted wines from estate vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley and Santa Rita Hills. Vineyard yields were down 35% in this vintage. · A stunning nose composed of aromas of perfectly ripe cherries and berries with subtle hints of baking spice and smoke-infused oak. A really impressive mouth full of delicious dark sappy fruit underlain with smoky oak, earthiness and citrus. Seamless with perfect integration of alcohol and harmonious t n’ a portending a long future. The wine is more elegantly styled than usual from this vineyard. The best I have ever tasted from this producer and a memorable wine. Reviewed July 9, 2009 WINERY » 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 WINERY » 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 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2005 Tyler Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., $50. · The nose trumps the flavors here. Like an expensive perfume, the scents of black fruits, roses, and fresh green grass are alluring. A different story in the mouth where the black cherry fruit is tart and lean. A hefty acidic spine dominates throughout. Reviewed August 4, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2005 Arcadian Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., pH 3.39, TA 0.65, 116 cases, $65. The vineyard was planted in 1997 to Dijon 115, 667 and 777 as well as Martini clone and a Champagne clone 31. Alluvial sand and clay loam soils. Cold soak is followed by fermentation in small open-top vats. Primary and secondary fermentation are completed in barrel. Aged 22 months in 3-year-old extra-tight-grain Sirugue French oak barrels, 40% of which were new. Aged 14 months in bottle. Unfined and unfiltered. · Moderate reddish-purple robe in the glass. The nose is layered with aromas that include fresh black cherries, spice, white pepper, anise and oak. Discreetly concentrated core of black cherry and blackberry fruit wrapped in fine-grain tannins and displaying an appealing earthiness. Finishes with persistence and silkiness. Even better the next day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Best Pinot Noir I have ever had from this vineyard. Reviewed July 1, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »