EOS Estate Winery
One of the largest wineries in Paso Robles, EOS Estate Winery, has been placed in receivership because of financial problems.

The winery, which was founded by the Arciero family in 1985, was sold in 2007, for $20 million to Sapphire Wines – a Tennessee-based firm owned and controlled by Jeffrey Hopmayer.

In 2009, Hopmayer  also bought two other California labels, Carneros Creek of Napa and Wildhurst of Lake County. In October, 2009 he sold the three wineries to a company owned by Entertainment Property Trust – a publicly traded (EPR) company that also owns megaplex theaters, entertainment retail centers, public charter schools, ski parks and other well known wineries.

According to an article in the San Luis Obispo Tribune, from the time Hopmayer bought EOS, the company steadily racked up debt. It owes an estimated $16.5 million to lenders, including a $7.5 million loan from Farm Credit West and $8 million owed to Entertainment Properties Trust. The winery also owes $2 million to $3 million to growers and $1.2 million in rent not paid since August 2009, according to court filings.

Farm Credit West’s lawsuit also said periodic site inspections have shown as much as $1 million missing from the winery’s books, either because the winery had not been paid or the money had been transferred improperly to Sapphire Advisors, which handles the bookkeeping for EOS.

If the receiver had not been put in place, EOS Estates Winery’s current inventory of about 80,000 cases of wine could possibly have been exhausted in four months, several million dollars more could have been “diverted,” and the winery would have been forced out of business. The next hearing date is set for May 27.

Eos Estate 2006 Zinfandel Port
We like this Paso Robles wine – a lot. If you are too full after a meal but still crave a little dessert, there is nothing like a small glass of port with a piece of chocolate. Mmmm. Good Zinfandel ports that are affordable aren’t easy to find.

From November 28 Twisting Vines:

EOS 2006 Zinfandel Port
Intense aromas of prunes, molasses, roasted walnuts and maple syrup fill the nose. Nutty charactersglide across the palate with essence of plums and espresso. Spiciness of dry earth, cedar, and cinnamon linger on the palate for an extended finish. serve with chocolates cake or sip it by itself by the fireplace. Will age nicely for 15 years. Excellent wine for this price point. Widely available for under $24

Paso Robles
“There is no question that a decade from now, the top viticulture areas of Santa Barbara, Santa Rita Hills and the limestone hillsides west of Paso Robles will be as well-known as the glamorous vineyards of Napa Valley.”
—-- Robert M. Parker, Jr. June 30, 2005 issue of Wine Advocate

El Paso de Robles – “Pass of the Oaks” in Spanish, is located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. This central coast wine region is the largest viticulture area in the state. With climate and terrain that mimics the southern Rhone region of France, it is the new frontier for California winemaking. During the past 20 years, the number of wineries has grown from 30 to 250 – and counting. But the land isn’t what first brought people to the area. It was the water.

In 1882, a pamphlet advertised “El Paso de Robles Hot and Cold Sulphur Springs and the Only Natural Mud Baths in the World.”

That same year, commercial winemaking was introduced to the Paso Robles region when Andrew York, a settler from Indiana, planted vineyards and established the Ascension Winery at what is now York Mountain Winery. The family planted some of the area’s earliest Zinfandel vines, making Paso Robles famous for the variety.

In the 1970’s the first large-scale modern facility in the area was built by Dr. Stanley Hoffman. He brought financing and expertise from UC Davis, planting some of the region’s first Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on his 1,200-acre ranch. Cabernet Sauvignon still remains the leading variety for the Paso Robles appellation, and accounts for 38 percent of the region’s planted wine grape acreage.

The 1990’s brought the French. In 1989, the Perrin family (of the Rhône Valley’s Chateau de Beaucastel, revered producer of Chateauneuf-du-Pape), along with American importer Robert Haas, established their international joint venture, Tablas Creek Vineyard.

Since 1989, Paso Robles has seen an explosion of plantings of Rhône varieties. It now has some of the largest acreage of Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne planting in the state.

Worldwide recognition of Paso Robles Wine Country as a premier wine region came in 2000 when Justin Vineyards & Winery’s Bordeaux-style Isosceles was named one of the top 10 wines in the world by the Wine Spectator.

In 1994 Isosceles, Justin’s iconic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, was named “Best Blended Wine in the World” at the London International Wine & Spirit Competition.

You can find a 2007 Isoscelels for around $56 a bottle. Not a bad price for a good wine. But we are always looking for the diamond in the rough, and we think Justin produces such a wine.

2007 Justin The Orphan
Made from leftover juices from the hand-harvested single vintages, the grapes, Cabs, Syrahs, and Merlots, are blended, depending on availability, into that years orphan.

Justin has done an Orphan since 2003 when there was a fire at the winery. The fire caused some damage and disarray of the proprietary barrels in the cellar. Because they couldn’t identify some of the wines, they were blended into a red wine called, “The Orphan.”

Tasting Notes
Bright purple in color with a ruby red hue, the 2007 is our best Orphan offering to date. Aromas of black fruit, raspberry and leather fill the glass. The entry is soft, balanced and layered with fruits, fig and a touch of spice. The mid palate is fleshy and fruit forward, segueing into a finish lightly touched by ripe tannins and nuances of new French and American oak. $15

Four Vines Wines
Paso Robles winemaker Christian Tietje is a hedonist. He is passionate about wine: making it, drinking it and bringing people together to enjoy it.

A former chef, Chris fell head over heels for old vine Zinfandel, and founded Four Vines in 1990 with a plan to make four “killer zins” from the four top California appellations for old vine Zinfandel grapes:  Napa, Sonoma, Amador and Paso Robles. The bold, fruit-forward, food-friendly style of wine making would become Christian’s trademark. His first two wines, “Anarchy” & “Heretic” took the wine world by storm.

“Anarchy” is an unconventional Rhone blend: unexpectedly pairing spicy, brambly old vine Paso Zin with Syrah and Mourvedre. “Heretic” brings a pure, passionate, no holds barred approach to Paso Petite Sirah. The market was ready, and so were the critics.  Christian earned his first high marks from the Wine Spectator. Giant red wines with outrageous attitude, intriguing blends and unique marketing are geared toward Gen X, Gen Y and those Boomers who think they can keep up.

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2007 “Zinbitch” Magnum, Zinfandel, Paso Robles
Only in amazing vintage years I plan to select my best barrels, from my best vineyards and put together my crème de la crème Zin. 2007 was an epic Zinfandel year.

Thus, the first ZinBitch was created by blending Dante Dusi and Martinelli Vineyards;  two of the oldest, head-pruned, dry-farmed Zin vineyards in Paso that together are the history of Zinfandel in Paso Robles.

A very limited production of 300 bottles have been produced and bottled only in Magnum (1.5ltr) bottles for optimum aging.  I then bottle aged the wine for 10 months before release.

Four Vines will be releasing the 1st ZinBitch on February 14, Valentine’s Day and the birthday of the ZinBitch himself. Get one of only 300 Zinbitch Zinfandel magnums – each signed by winemaker and ZinBitch Christian Tietje.

Ships February 15, 2010.  300 bottles produced / Only 240 bottles remaining
Serve with Spicy Grilled Lamb Chops

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Spicy Grilled Lamb Chops Recipe
Ingredients:
2 lbs. lamb loin chops
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon crushed dried thyme
½ teaspoon crushed dried basil
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon sea salt

Directions:
In a large baking dish, combine all the ingredients, except for the lamb chops and salt. Mix until combined, add the lamb chops and rub the marinade into both sides. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours, turn over, and refrigerate for 2 hours more. Lamb chops may be marinated over night.

Preheat grill, grill pan, or broiler. Remove chops from marinade and salt both sides generously. Cook about 5-6 minutes per side for medium-rare. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.  Serve with Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing on the side.

Dessert Wine
For a little moment of luxury, there’s nothing better after dinner then a little glass of port with dessert or all by itself. You don’t have to spend a small fortune for one of life’s little pleasures.

Two favorites:

Taylor Fladgate 10 Year-old Tawny
From Portugal. An exceptionally fine old tawny blend, aged for 10 years in oak casks. Elegant and smooth, combining delicate wood notes and rich mellow fruit, it is bottled for immediate drinking. A superb dessert wine best served at the end of the meal in the same way as Vintage Port.
Serve with chocolate truffles or Stilton blue cheese & unsalted almonds. At Costco $27

EOS Zinfandel Port 2006
From Paso Robles. Intense aromas of prunes, molasses, roasted walnuts and maple syrup fill the nose. Nutty characters glide across the palate with essence of plums and espresso. Spiciness of dry earth, cedar, and cinnamon linger on the palate for an extended finish. serve with chocolates cake or sip it by itself by the fireplace. Will age nicely for 15 years. Excellent wine for this price point. Costco $20