Non-Vintage Love Wave

Tasting Notes

An Angelica-style dessert wine crafted from estate-grown Marsanne and Roussanne. The nose opens with layered notes of honey and caramel, leading into a palate defined by silky texture and seamlessly integrated sweetness derived from unfermented grape juice. The finish lingers with a delicate toasted almond nuance from extended barrel aging. A perfect bottle to share at the end of a relaxed evening. Pair with creamy blue cheese for a truly memorable experience. 500 mL

Vineyard Notes

Sourced from a field blend of Marsanne and Roussanne planted at the highest elevation of our estate, this site consistently delivers fruit of exceptional concentration and character. As the last white varieties to ripen each season, the grapes are allowed extended hang time to achieve full sugar development and depth of flavor.

Perched at 2,800 feet on our highest lava cap outcroppings, the vineyard faces southwest, offering sweeping views of both the Crystal Range of the Sierra Nevada and the distant California Coastal Range. The site benefits from a unique microclimate, with moderated daytime temperatures and warmer nighttime conditions that support the full ripening of these Mediterranean varieties while preserving balance.

Winemaker Notes

This wine is crafted in the historic Angelica style, a wine deeply rooted in the early days of California viticulture. During the Gold Rush of the mid-1800s, settlers and miners in the Sierra Foothills planted some of the state’s first vineyards. Without reliable fermentation control or modern cellar technology, winemakers often fortified fresh grape juice with neutral spirits to preserve it during transport and storage. The result was Angelica—a naturally sweet, fortified wine prized for its richness, stability, and ability to withstand long journeys. It quickly became one of California’s earliest and most widely enjoyed wine styles, particularly in mining camps and frontier towns.

In keeping with this tradition, the wine is fortified prior to fermentation, preserving the pure, natural sweetness of the grape juice rather than fermenting to dryness. It is then aged for extended periods in neutral 225L oak barrels, allowing texture and complexity to develop gradually over time. A solera-style blending system incorporates multiple vintages, building layers of depth and continuity from year to year.

The result is a wine that honors its historical roots while expressing the precision and balance of modern winemaking—rich, concentrated, and enduring.

Awards

94pts Wine Enthusiast