Halcon Offers

Our seventh Berserkers Day offering! Again, thanks for all the support over those years! This time around we are offering samplers of our 2015 Pinots and (mainly estate) 2015 Rhones:

  1. We are offering a six-pack sampler of Halcon 2015 Pinot Noirs – two bottles each of Cerise, Wentzel and Oppenlander. This sampler is $192 + shipping (see costs below, delivery free in the Bay Area) + sales tax where applicable.

  2. An all-Rhone six-pack - three 2015 Alturas estate Syrah, two 2015 Esquisto estate Grenache blend and one 2015 Petite Sirah - is $168 + shipping (see costs below, delivery free in the Bay Area) + sales tax where applicable.

  3. Combine any two of the above six-packs and receive an additional 7.5% case discount.

Please email us your order to info@halconvineyards.com (please include a number where we can reach you for credit card details). Shipping costs are:
AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, WA, WY: 6 btls $15, 12 btls $27. Rest of US: 6 btls $20, 12 btls $36.

Located in the Mendocino County appellation of Yorkville Highlands, Halcón Vineyards overlook Anderson Valley and the Pacific beyond. At 2500ft it is one of the highest vineyards in California. The northerly location, ocean exposure and altitude combine to produce a climate remarkably similar to the Northern Rhône region of France.
Halcón Vineyards sits on a geologic band known as Yorkville Complex, a rare soil type based on fractured shale, mica-schist and quartz-rich rock. This ancient rock erodes into a thin layer of extremely low vigor soil; the very same soils that garner fame to Côte-Rôtie.

For more info on Halcón Vineyards see http://halconvineyards.com/.

2015 Wentzel Pinot Noir
Our Wentzel fruit, a blend of Dijon clones, was picked September 21st, two days later than our estate Syrah and almost a week after Oppenlander. Something about the location and exposure of this vineyard nicely extended development, leading to perfectly mature fruit at just 22.5b. We followed the same winemaking regime as in 2014 – 35% whole-cluster inclusion, 20% new French oak.
I feel that this wine is a step up on the 2014 – concentrated but precise with a great balancing acidity. It has a classic Anderson Valley profile of foresty red fruits, balsa wood and stony earthiness. The stems bring a dried herb and floral complexity without any greenness. Bottled unfined, unfiltered. 12.8% alc.

2015 Oppenlander Pinot Noir
A lower crop level resulted in a slightly earlier pick date of September 15th. We switched around the ratio of clones compared to 2014 – this wine is two thirds clone 115 and one third Pommard. All the fruit was co-fermented utilizing 35% whole-cluster, with no adjustments to acid or alcohol, and no inoculation. Aging was in 20% new French François Freres oak.
A little more red-fruited than the 2014, with the plummy Pommard fruits playing the supporting role. Floral with a strong damp earth note. As with the Wentzel, this vintage shows more precision and detail than the prior vintage. We waited until very late December to bottle unfined and unfiltered. 13.2% alc.

2015 Cerise Pinot Noir
Our first and only vintage of Cerise Pinot - this Anderson Valley vineyard was sold to Kosta Browne in 2016. The fruit for this wine came from a wind sweep block located at 1600ft. Predominantly clone Wädenswil with 20% Dijon clone 115. Like the other two Pinots we utilized 35% whole-cluster and aged the wine for 15 months in 20% new French oak.
This wine shows the classic Wädenswil characteristics - a slightly lighter color but with intense earthy red fruit aromas. On the palate there is very pure, bright red fruits nicely framed by fine tannin. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. 13.0% alc.

2015 Alturas
The 2015 Halcón Alturas continues as a blend of estate Syrah blocks, mainly Chave clone plus a little own-rooted Estrella River and Tablas Creek selection, with just a little co-fermented Viognier. This year we slightly increased the whole-cluster inclusion to 40%. Aged in 15% new French oak in the form of a single 500L Saury puncheon.
This wine is fleshier, a little less acid driven than the 2014 edition. More meaty, dried herb qualities but still energetic with that characteristic white pepper. The finished alcohol is 13.5%. Unfined and unfiltered.
“Harvested on the same date as the 2014 (September 19th), the 2015 Syrah Alturas saw a touch of whole cluster fermentation and a tiny amount of new oak. Its deep purple color is followed by a northern Rhone-like bouquet of blackberries, crushed rocks, peppery herbs and violets. This gives way to a medium to full-bodied Syrah that has beautiful purity, good concentration and fine tannin that show on the finish. It will have 10-15 years of overall longevity.” (Wine Advocate, Aug 2016) 91-93pts

2015 Esquisto
65% Grenache and 35% Mourvedre fruit was co-fermented utilizing 30% whole-cluster and native yeast, then aged in a single used 450L puncheon and one neutral 228L barrel. Prior to bottling we blended in 5% estate Syrah, giving us the same blend as the 2012 and 2014 Esquisto. The low yield has resulted in a powerful wine with lots of Grenache character but also intense peppery spice. Two or three years in the cellar will be rewarded. Just 80 cases produced, bottled unfined unfiltered. 14.5% alc.
“Tasted as a barrel sample, the 2015 Esquisto is another winner from Paul that should represent a terrific value. Made from two-thirds Grenache, one-third Mourvedre and a splash of Syrah, from yields of basically nothing, it reveals a ruby/purple and borderline opaque color to go with tons of kirsch, strawberries, incense, spice and floral aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, supple and nicely polished, with tons of fruit, it should hit the ground running and have 7-8 years of prime drinking.” (Wine Advocate, Aug 2016) 91-93pts

2015 Petite Sirah
Our third vintage utilizing fruit from the excellent Theopolis Vineyard in Yorkville Highlands. We went “full Rhone” with this vintage - aged in neutral French oak puncheons and fermented with 50% whole-cluster. A little more structured than the previous two vintages with more savory qualities but still plenty of that chocolate laced fruit. Unfined and unfiltered. 14.4% alc.
“The peppery, scorched earth, plum and licorice-scented 2015 Petite Sirah Tierra (100% Petite Sirah aged all in used puncheons) is medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated and fresh, with lively acidity and first rate purity. It stays a touch compressed and narrow on the finish, but is certainly an outstanding wine. It has some tannin to integrate, so give bottles a year or so after release.” (Wine Advocate, Aug 2016) 90-92pts

In on the Rhone six-pack. Thanks, Paul!

You got it. Thanks Much

In for the Rhone six pack as well. Easy ordering - just talked to Jackie to wrap everything up.

Thanks Jeff.

Got the Rhone 6 as well. Really excited to try it. Thanks Paul!

Thanks Chris. Enjoy!

In for the Pinots as I have not had any of them yet.

Thanks again Joe

I’m in! These are chiseled, super focused, beautiful wines. But the Berserkers already knew that!

Hi Paul (or Jackie!),

Will you be offering the Cerise Pinot Noir for sale at some point on its own? Thanks!

Hi Nick

Yes will be part of our fall offer to the mailing list.