Dante Dusi Vineyard was planted in 1945; the vines are head trained and dry farmed on well-drained gravelly soil. Located on the north side of Templeton, the vineyard is situated in the “Templeton Gap” which is a cooler part of Paso Robles. Although the vineyard is only 30 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, the climate is quiet warm
as the cool breezes from the ocean do not reach the vineyard until very late in the day. However, summer night time temperatures typically go down to 50 ºF.

Overall, the 2016 was a warm year. Every month except May was warmer than average, even with a cool stretch that lasted nearly a month between mid-August and early September. Anticipated El Niño rainfall was less than hoped for (eight inches) in Paso Robles, but still greater than the prior four vintages of drought and appears to have had a positive effect on yields and quality. Yield projections for 2016 were slightly below long-term averages. The long heat spikes we sometimes get did not materialize, so the grapes moved through maturation beautifully and were in great condition at harvest.

Our winemaking style focuses on making wines with exceptional balance, expressive fruit flavors, limited use of new French oak barrels, and a ripe but restrained alcohol level. The winemaking process features indigenous yeast, small open-top tanks which are pumped-over three times per day, aging in French oak barrels, naturally occurring malolactic bacteria and bottling without fining or filtration.

A classic, concentrated, spicy warm climate red wine made from low yielding head-trained vines grown on deep, gravelly loam soils. It is ruby red in color with a ray of youthful purple tint. The nose is alive with spiciness, cigar box, blueberry cobbler, smoked cured meat and black pepper. Awesome integration of acidity and soft tannins, the wine is nicely balanced, full-bodied. A very nice dinner companion.