Less than 75 cases (862 bottles, to be exact) of this sensational Pinot Noir were produced by owner/winemaker Deborah Hall. The picturesque Gypsy Canyon property (in the same appellation as the famous Sea Smoke vineyards) has an exceptionally cool microclimate compared to other vineyard sites in the Santa Rita Hills AVA. This allows the berries to ripen with stable sugar levels and develop complex full-bodied fruit character, producing a true Burgundian-style Pinot Noir. The vineyard is tended by hand to create balance vine by vine. The winemaking also is done by hand, in small lots with no filtration, allowing honest expression of the Santa Rita Hills terroir.

We just tasted the newly released 2004 Pinot Noir with Deborah and were even more impressed than we were with the inaugural vintage last year. The wine is soft and elegant with luscious fruit flavors and a long finish. It is truly deserving of the lengths to which Deborah went in developing the packaging. The bottle is hand-blown by Mexican artisans the way bottles were made before the advent of machine-made glass. The crest on the bottle also replicates the style of that time. The hand-dipped bees wax seal on the cork comes from bees on the Gypsy Canyon estate. This is a wine made with the greatest attention to every detail.

The Dukecontinues to be Deborah's exclusive Southern California retailer for this rare treasure. We have a limited supply available for you at $75.00 per bottle; $450.00 per 6-pack. Gypsy Canyon Pinot Noir is on its way to becoming a Central Coast cult wine. Don't miss out on this gem!

Gypsy Canyon Ancient Vine Angelica, Dona Marcelina's Vineyard

Pictured alongside the Pinot Noir is an even rarer wine made from the fruit of 100-year-old Mission grape vines. Through Deborah's extensive research, she found that, in the early 1800s, the first known woman wine grower in California, Dona Marcelina Felix Dominguez, grew Mission vines on her Santa Barbara property. In honor and celebration of Dona Marcelina's contribution to women in wine, Deborah's ancient Mission vineyard has been named Dona Marcelina's Vineyard. Today, it is the oldest producing vineyard in Santa Barbara County.

In keeping with the historic nature of the vineyard, Deborah makes "California Original Angelica" following the great pioneer winemaker Emile Vache's notes from 1891. For the 2004 vintage, she produced only 264 half-bottles of this exquisite fortified dessert wine. Here is a rare taste of California history. The packaging, similar to that of the Pinot Noir, is absolutely stunning. The labels were hand-made and Deborah personally signed and numbered every bottle.

The price of this luscious beauty is $120.00 per 375 ml. bottle. It is an artistic treasure too rare to miss.

P. S. In an article posted on January 13, 2006, the Wine Spectator had some very complimentary words about Gypsy Canyon: "The 2004 Pinot Noir offers fragrant lavender scents with a medley of rich, exotic huckleberry and wild berry flavors that are vivid and persistent. It is fermented with a tiny amount of Pinot Gris.."
While we certainly think the wines deserve higher scores, the article is very well written. You can click here to read the entire article

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