This bud break's for you and tasting at Curtis

Bud break is upon us in Santa Barbara County, most notably to the north in Santa Maria Valley, where early-budding Chardonnay is already greening up the vineyards. The Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay vineyards along 101 just north of Los Alamos are almost fully green.

Bud break at Bien Nacido, late-March 2013 

Further down Foxen Canyon Road in the Santa Ynez Valley, Rhône varietals at Curtis Winery are just starting to break.

Bud break at Curtis, late-March 2013

While at Curtis I tasted through a nice lineup of balanced and bright Rhône varietal wines. Most impressive to me were the 2011 Curtis Heritage Blanc, Santa Barbara County, with richly layered tropical and citrus notes along with honey and spice nuances. Among the reds the 2009 Curtis Rock Hollow Vineyard Syrah, Santa Ynez Valley is aged for 18 months in 40% new French oak and comes from their estate vineyard in Ballard Canyon. It shows an alluring complexity of spice, tea, earth, cracked pepper and brambly fruit that streamlines into blueberry and violet with subtle depth on the palate, finishing with firm polished structure and good length. Really a beautiful wine. Also the 2010 Curtis Reserve "GSM", Santa Ynez Valley (50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 25% Mourvedre) showed an epic blend of meaty cassis, spice and blood orange fruit - layered, juicy and bright on the palate finishing with hints of clove and vanilla, firm silky tannins and good length - an outstanding wine. Click here for tasting notes on the current lineup at Curtis.