Wellcome to my day 5. I actually had a very nice sleep and awoke at 7:30 am feeling refreshed.  

 

Todays activities are light comapred to yesterday for two reasons. First because it's Sunday so everything is closed and it is supposed to be a day of rest.

 

But we have 2 things on the agenda:

 

First there is a wine presentation from Mike Rennie and Gary Winder, owners of the Leoness Cellars situated in the wonderful, rolling hills of Temecula, California.

 

Leoness Cellars was founded in 2002, on a hilltop overlooking the beautiful Rolling Hills Vineyard Estate on De Portola, with plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon (their most important grape), Viognier, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, White Merlot, Muscat Canelli, and Cinsault Port, as well as small lots of other specially selected varietals. 

 

The first lecture (one of three) entilted "From the Ground to the Glass" will focus on viticulture and the different aspects of vineyard farming. And his three wines will showcase the multiple aspects of vineyard management. 

 

Perhaps the most important message Mike addressed during his 2 hour presentation was that both Gary and Mike are  "farmers", a word that they carry with honour and pride. It is the love and respect of their vineyards that helps them create some sensational  wines. All three wine were very distinct.

 

2013 Cabernet Franc-Merlot (95% cab. franc & 5% merlot) is fruit driven with prominent acidity at this stage, indicating that it will improve considerably with age; the 2009 Merlot VS (Vineyard Selection) is gorgeaus now with lush flavours of black and blue fruit as well as intense developped bouquets of sweet tobacco, saddle leather and wet earth. Our final wine was  the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon SS (Signature Selection), a wine that can continue to develop, offering a deep and profound structure with multi layers of fruit and tannins. 

 

Well done and thank you. Looking forward to your next presentation.