Garagiste Murder Ridge Winery April 2021 2016

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Garagiste Murder Ridge Winery April 2021 2016

Volume 08 Issue 10 Garagiste WINE CLUB [gar-uh-zheest’] noun - A French term used to describe independent, artisan winemakers crafting small batches of wine in garage-type settings and not yet discovered by the mainstream. Murder Ridge Winery Owner & Winemaker: Steve Alden Location: Mendocino Ridge, California Farming the Mendocino Ridge is not for the faint of heart. With ridges soaring from 1,200 feet to 3,000 feet in elevation, this hidden gem of an appellation is rugged, isolated and untamed, with steep hillsides, forbidding mountain terrain and an abundance of natural wildlife including bears, mountain lions, and wild boar - it is what Steve Alden refers to as the epitome of ‘farming in the wilderness.’ Steve Alden is the grower, vintner and farmer behind Murder Ridge Winery, this month’s Garagiste Wine Club feature. Established in 2015, Murder Ridge Winery crafts very limited amounts of Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Syrah and Chardonnay, all 100% estate grown from Steve’s Perli Vineyards located in the coastal mountains of the Mendocino Ridge AVA. His vineyard setting is quite unique, consisting of five cool, sun-soaked vineyard ‘islands’ surrounded by a sea of forest and stretched out along three miles of mountainous terrain - like an archipelago along Mendocino County’s south coast. Each vineyard block has its own microclimate, exposure, elevation, soils and weather patterns, and the rugged, steep terrain requires costly and extreme farming techniques. But the result? Low vigor vines that produce small sized, loosely packed clusters with tiny berries, creating wines with extraordinarily unique character. The Perli Vineyard blocks make up only thirty acres of Steve Alden’s expansive 2,000 acre timber ranch property that was originally purchased by his grandfather back in 1951. After planting his first vines here in 1994, Steve began selling his in-demand fruit to such premium wineries as Drew Family, Arista, Donkey and Goat, and Edmeades, just to name a few. It wasn’t until 2013 that he crafted his first vintage for Murder Ridge Winery, and currently produces less than 500 cases annually of these stunning, mountain wines. Now, with a rather intriguing name like ‘Murder Ridge Winery,’ one would hope for an equally intriguing story behind it - and there is. The ridge line on which Perli Vineyards is planted is named ‘Murder Ridge’ after an actual murder that took place here between homesteaders in the early 1900’s. The story goes that an old man named Joseph Cooper was murdered by Peter Gianoli, who was later found sipping on a demijohn of wine that was taken from Cooper. Since Cooper was about 70 years of age and an inoffensive man, it was a mystery why he was murdered . and it was never resolved. Now, Murder Ridge Winery begins its tales of wine and suspense. We are happy to introduce Murder Ridge Winery to our Garagiste Wine Club members. Enjoy! 75 cases produced Murder Ridge 2016 ‘Maylena’ Red Blend Mendocino Ridge, California A wine of depth, balance and subtle intensity, the Murder Ridge 2016 ‘Maylena’ Red Blend is comprised of 75% Syrah, 15% Petite Sirah, 8% Zinfandel, and 2% Merlot from Perli Vineyards in the Mendocino Ridge AVA of Northern California. Wickedly deep in color, the 2016 ‘Maylena’ Red Blend opens with an ambrosia of dark notes of blackberries, violets and black olive on the nose. The flavor profile is distinctly Syrah, with flavors of plum, black pepper and currents that are supported by silky rich tannins. A delicious pairing to charcuterie, grilled meats and aged, intense cheeses. Aged 20 months in oak. Enjoy! Gold Medal Wine Club Price: $39.00 / bottle To order, visit the Wine Store at www.GoldMedalWineClub.com or call 1-800-266-8888 *2 bottle minimum per wine, per order. Shipping and tax (if applicable) not included. Call for details. .

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