The Wines

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The 2003 vintage was the last of the vintages in which we were purposefully trying to make the biggest Pinots possible. The wines are super concentrated and lush - but don't have much acid. As such, they're not candidates for aging. In fact, as they have aged, they have started to fall apart. We're also seeing that some of the synthetic corks we used have caused the wines to get oxydized. If you open a bottle and feel it's off, please contact us and we'll either get you a replacement (from the current release) or refund your purchase price. If you're on our mailing list, you can claim credit on the next release.

The theme for the 2003 labels is "Vineyard Family Portrait". We asked each grower to supply me with a family photo that they'd like to be used on the label. Hide this content.

More about Label_2003_Brosseau

Chalone AVA
200 Cases
The whole Brosseau clan!

More about Label_2003_Cargasacchi

Santa Rita Hills
125 Cases

Back row: Mark (Peter’s brother), Julia (Peter’s wife), Peter’s other brother John and his wife. Front row: Peter’s mom and dad, Peter’s sister, and Peter! The kids blong to Peter’s brother John and his wife.

More about Label_2003_ClosPepe

Santa Rita Hills
250 Cases

Steve and Cathy Pepe in the background, Wes and Chanda to the left, and Wes’ brother and wife with their kids to the right.

More about Label_2003_Garys

Santa Lucia Highlands
375 Cases

Gary Pisoni’s parents on the left
Gary Franscioni’s parents on the right

More about Label_2003_Llama

California - 100 Cases

"Uncle Brian, why do you call this wine 'The Llama'?

Well Timmy, it’s because a llama saved my life a few years ago. I was hiking in the Andes when a sudden, early season snowstorm trapped me on the mountain. Just when I’d given up ’t remember you going to South America. Did that really happen?

Well, no Timmy. But I like to think that llama is out there, somewhere, waiting to help some poor lost hiker.

Uncle Brian, you’re a freak.

I know, Timmy. I know."

More about Label_2003_Naylor

Chalone AVA
25 Cases

Duncan Naylor and his wife, Barbara.

More about Label_2003_RanchoOntiveros

Santa Maria Valley
200 Cases

James Ontiveros with his parents.

More about Label_2003_Rosellas

Santa Lucia Highlands
250 Cases

Gary and Rosella’s kids (and grandchild)