NOVEMBER WINE OF THE MONTH 2018
PENCE RANCH STA. RITA HILLS PINOT NOIR SANTA BARBARA COUNTY 2017
Regular Price $26.99/Sale Price $19.99
*Images courtesy of Pence Vineyards & Winery*
RANCH & FARM:
Pence is a working ranch and poly-culture, located at the eastern boundary of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation of Santa Barbara County. In the spirit of the self-sustaining quinta or rancho, our land provides sustenance for ourselves and our employees, just as it did for the original Spanish settlers and natives of Alta California.
Atypical of conventional agricultural practices, our ranch crew is comprised of salaried employees who work with us year-round. Together, we built the homes in which we and several of them live with our families; two children have in fact been born on the property. We built the barns that hold our farm equipment, hay and feed, as well as the roads to get there. We installed our vineyards, the water system that serves them and the drainage system that recharges the aquifer with runoff from the rain. We tend the chickens that lay the eggs that feed our families each morning. We grow our own hay, which feeds our cattle, which eventually feeds us. We herd and collect the cows on the cutting horses we breed and train ourselves. We view this disciplined self-reliance as a virtue and a means of assuring quality in everything we do. Our crew is like family, and we treat them as such. In exchange, they perform at the highest level, exercising utmost care and diligence in every aspect of our organic farming program. Under the experienced and intelligent guidance of Daniel Garibay, our Ranch Manager, and Francisco Ramirez, our Vineyard Manager, they hand-farm organically each vine individually and mindfully. Those same hands tend the same vines year after year, their livelihoods and ultimate success inextricably linked with one another. Our wines are a testament to the skill and dedication of our crew, reflecting the great pride they take in what they do and the sensitivity to the people and places around us. 
Because we are passionate about food and wine together, and also believe that some of life’s greatest moments are with family and friends surrounded by food and wine, we started in 2014 the Pence Ranch Farm. Our goal is to produce Estate driven consumables to complement our range of wines and to reinforce the connection of food and wine by tying it back to the land. We are planting a wide selection of fruit and olive trees (600 different trees and 7 species from France, Italy, Greece and Spain) and vegetables and grains, mostly of long-forgotten varieties, to make conserves, pickled foods and other items that will be available for sales to our customers and as gifts to our clients. An old Italian Rye was recently seeded for bread production. We will be expanding our chicken egg production and are considering raising pigs and cattle for meat production. We hope that by these efforts we can further bridge the relationship between food and wine and take advantage of the incredible bounty of California and our ranch.
The Pence Ranch Pups cruisin the countryside
VINEYARDSSeen from above, Pence Vineyard appears as an island on an elevated plateau which has been slowly eroded over time on all sides, and is thus fully exposed to merciless cold ocean winds, morning fog and other Pacific Ocean influences. It is this combination of stressful conditions that provides the character considered essential to making beautiful, balanced wines from our location. Geologically, the land comprises a complex collection of several different virgin soil profiles, including Tierra, Linne and San Andreas Series, all of which are unusually dense and permeated with a variety of rock, calcareous (limestone) material and clay.
The most complex wines are created from vines grown on slopes and challenged by their environments. Though more expensive to plant and difficult to farm than lowland fruit, the qualitative difference is palpable. Because of the significant variations in its elevations like a skateboard park, the vineyard is characterized by multiple sun aspects and varying slopes, making the soils all well-drained, but otherwise representing a quite varied terrain. These and other unique and challenging aspects of this site were critical in evaluating its vineyard potential. 
Click on the picture above for an interactive map of the Pence Ranch Vineyard Sites from The folks at Pence Ranch!
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WINEMAKER & WINEMAKINGIt is our sincere wish that our wines transport you to another place; that they are representative not only of their varieties and the terroir of our site, but also of the profound mystery Mother Nature has to offer. Towards this end, our team has established the highest aspirations for our vineyard and our wine program. It is a purposeful endeavor, in that everything was done very deliberately and without regard to cost to achieve the highest level of quality in our wines. Our philosophy in the cellar is driven by restraint, balance, freshness and site. If our wines express typicity, it has much more to do with our terroir and viticulture than with anything we have done in the cellar. We strive for honesty and elegance in our wines, reflecting the beautiful landscape where our grapes are grown, the richness of the clay soils feeding their roots, and the abundant sunshine that provides life’s energy. The colors, aromas, and flavors in each bottle are the pure manifestation of our vineyard and our efforts to support it.
Our wines are made by Sashi Moorman and his Assistant, the very abled John Faulkner, who is known for his brilliant winemaking talents and for making balanced, complex and terroir-driven wines. After graduating with a degree from Vassar, Sashi started his career as a line cook working in New York and Washington DC having trained under Peter Pasternak, owner of the highly acclaimed Washington DC Restaurants Obelisk and 2 Amy’s Pizzeria. In 1996, Sashi left the restaurant world to start a 5 year internship with Adam Tolmach of Ojai Vineyards, one of California’s consistently top producers. In 2001 he then joined Stolpman Vineyards as their Winemaker for several years. In addition to this, he also makes the wines for Sandhi and Domaine De La Côte, both projects with well-known Sommelier Rajat Parr, that are known for making site-expressive and balanced Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. He also has his Syrah-driven only winery called Piedrasassi, which focuses on the terroirs of the Central Coast. PENCE RANCH STA. RITA HILLS PINOT NOIR 2017
Our Estate Pinot Noir represents the essence of our organically farmed vineyards with grapes sourced from every block, with multiple row orientations, sun aspects and clonal selections, all of which are planted in rich clay soils. Having these unique soils, creates a fuller and deeper impression in the mouth much the way marbling in Wagyu beef produces a far more succulent dining experience.It is a classic example of Pinot Noir and is a great entry point into understanding our vineyard.
Our estate wines reflect the essence of our terroir. Derived from a selection of our small blocks, these wines express the roundness derived from our rich clay soils, while also conveying the tension derived from the maritime influences that challenge our vines every day. Blending these blocks provides us the opportunity to produce wines that are immensely drinkable now, yet will also deliver great drinking for the next 5+ years. 14 months in 25% new French oak. 20% whole-cluster fermented. 592 cases. 13.0% alcohol. TASTING NOTES"This is a great and extremely fairly priced taste of what the Pence team is up to on the eastern edge of the appellation. Sweet sandalwood, red plum, mulberry, black tea, juniper and a hint of maple show on the nose. The palate combines tart black-plum skins with cherry tomato and dewy garden-herb flavors."
-WINE ENTHUSIAST- PREVIOUS VINTAGE RATINGS
ROBERT PARKER - 93 POINTS 2016 VINTAGE
WINE ENTHUSIAST - 92 POINTS & CELLAR SELECTION 2016 VINTAGE |
Regularly $26.99, The Pence Ranch Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir will be featured as our November Wine of The Month and is now on sale at $19.99. While supplies last.
Current Events
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Pumpkin Beers are upon us!
With the smell of fall in the air and the cooler evenings it brings we get the joy of welcoming in the season a delicious selection of Pumpkin Beer. Like any good coffee shop offers up their pumpkin spice latte this time of year we have the evening answer in our vast selection of pumpkin beers. So raise a glass, celebrate the season and experiment away!
Pumpkin Beer Selections include but are not limited to the following:
**Selection and availability of Oktoberfest and Pumpkin Beers are subject to change. Feel free to give us a call with any supply, availability and pricing questions at (970) 221-1717.** New Values from France:Cuvee Jean-Paul Vaucluse Rouge French Red Blend
This Humble, classic Southern France Rhone blend has hints of plums, strawberries, and dried currant with just a touch of spice. The warm climate has made this wine deep and rich while remaining soft, uncomplicated, mostly dry, and an absolute joy to drink with or without food. It's the perfect wine for folks looking to try something from outside the U.S. $9.99 Domaine de Pellehaut Red Blend Pellehaut red blend is a very well balanced and dry wine perfect for most occasions with medium bodied blackcurrant and blackberry flavors backed by some mild peppery spices. It's ample yet supple personality make it a versatile wine that will do very well both on its own or at the dinner table. $7.99 Seguret 'Les Coteaux Schisteux' Cotes du Rhone Villages 2014 "Beautifully alluring red, with mulled spice and black tea aromas leading the way for a silky core of raspberry and plum sauce flavors. The long anise-edged finish lingers nicely. 98% Grenache and 2% Syrah. 91 points Wine Spectator, scored at $24 retail price. $21.99 Cinquante-Cinq Viognier Here is a Southern France value that will astound with its versatility, being excellent for food pairings and absolutely delicious on it's own. Aged and stirred on the lees for three months in tanks this crisp white has nice body and shows creamy apricot, peach, apple, and citrus flavors. $12.99 Les Violettes Beaujolais Villages Beaujolais wines are all made of the Gamay grape and are known for being some of the most approachable and delicate wines of France. This wine will give aromas of mixed berry fruit, violets and provide soft blackberry and raspberry flavors on the palate. Low in harsh tannin this wine is famous for its pairing with turkey but works very well with other white meats, casseroles, stews, soups and appetizers. $9.99 Le Volets Chardonnay Lemon and lime with notes of pear and honey. Lightly oaked and a fantastic pairing for poultry or pasta. $8.99 Le Triporteur Vaucluse Rouge Classic Southern Rhone blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Carignan, 10% Syrah, and 10% Caladoc. Earthy and ripe, with a rich cherry finish. $8.99 Cellier des Princes 'Les Vignes du Prince' Cotes du Rhone Juicy and herbal with black currant and dark berries. Drink with lean red meats or chicken dishes. $9.99 |
Weekly Sales and Special FeaturesPringle’s Fine Wine and Spirits its proud to offer a weekly list of sale items that can be found here. This rotating list of promotional items changes weekly and runs Monday through Saturday. Each new list will be updated on Monday mornings. In addition, we also offer a host of items that will remain on sale for extended periods of time or while supplies last. Many of these items will be listed on the Featured Sales page. Check back often for new items!
Weekly Wine TastingJoin us most Fridays from 4pm-7pm for a tasting of premium wine! All wine being poured during the tasting will come with a 15% discount or offered at their sale price, whichever provides the greater saving! The lineup on Friday, November 16th revolve around Thanksgiving dinner and wines that pair well with all the classics from the sweet potatoes, green bean casserole and stuffing to the turkey of course, . Check out the full list below and we'll see you there!
WINE
Bi-Weekly Beer TastingJoin us every other Saturday from 4pm-7pm for a tasting of craft beer! Featured beers being poured on Saturday, November 3rd are as follows:
BEER
Now Offering Artisanal meats & cheeses along with various other snacksPringle's is proud to announce that we now carry cured meats, artisanal cheeses, and snacks to go with your beverage of choice! Join us at our weekly wine tastings to sample some of these delicious pairings!
To learn more, click here. Changes to Our Organic Wine SelectionIn order to bring more attention to the ever-expanding market of wines that are being produced organically, we have decided to move away from a having dedicated area of the store for organic wine and display them throughout the entirety of the store. In the process of doing so we have realized just how large the number of organic wines we proudly support is and that a small section of our wine department would not be nearly adequate for displaying all the wines. Moving forward our hope is that by clearly labeling organic wines throughout the store it will allow the customer to shop for a specific type of wine or a specific country they already enjoy and then find an organic wine from that area. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this transition period. If you have any questions regarding this change please feel free to ask to speak with a manager.
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