The Somm Journal

110 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 { seattle somm summit } CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN COAST Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards 2013 Chardonnay, Malibu Coast While Dolin Estate produces wines from several coastal regions of California—including Arroyo Grande, Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley—perhaps its most compelling vineyards are nestled in the relatively-new Malibu Coast AVA. "The first thin one ust consider when characterizin the Malibu Coast AVA is that it's not so much about 'Malibu' as it is the 'Coast,'" begins Elliott Dolin, Proprietor of Dolin Estate. "We aren't growing our vineyards in sand amongst surfers and olleyball players." Its clear this isnt the first tie olin has had to make this differentiation between the perception and the reality of the region. "If you stand on the acific Coast ihway with your bac to the ocean and you look north into the Santa Monica Mountains, you will see what the AVA is all about," continues Dolin. "It is 46 miles wide and eight miles deep, coprised of arine-inuenced terraces." The alibu Coast, which was ranted its status in 2014, runs east to west, with the ocean to the south and the Santa Monica mountain range to the north. "Our vineyards are at about a 400-foot elevation, and if you go deeper into the AVA, the elevation climbs up to 3,100 feet," says Dolin of the AVA's distinctive topography. This, in conjunction with the presence of both volcanic and sedimentary soils atypical for coastal vineyards, makes the Malibu Coast stand out amongst the coastal AVAs of California. Elliott Dolin, Proprietor and Owner of Dolin Estate. SUPER COASTAL Stolo Family Vineyards 2014 Estate Syrah, San Luis Obispo County The winner of the "Closest to the Ocean" award goes to the next producer, whose vineyards are a scant two and a half miles fro the acific cean. "We are tiny vineyard, not technically in an AVA, directly west of Paso Robles in a town called Cambria," explains Nicole Bertotti Pope, Winemaker for Stolo Family Vineyards in San Luis Obispo County. "Here we grow Burgundian varieties, Syrah, ewrztrainer and a little auinon Blanc. e hae 2 acres and make about 1,500 cases." Beyond its proiity to the acific, tolo aily ineyard is also protected by the Santa Lucia mountain range. That means it's remarkably cool here even on the hottest of days in Paso Robles, sometimes with a 40-degree temperature difference despite the 30-mile distance. "Our hillside block is very rocky with limestone and shale- fractured soil," notes Bertotti Pope. "This is not an ideal area for Syrah and the vines are about 20 years old, so at this point they are super low-yielding. Oftentimes we get less than a ton an acre, but the fruit is so unique, and it is a very distinctive and interesting spot for growing grapes." Nicole Bertotti Pope is the Winemaker for Stolo Family Vineyards in San Luis Obispo County.

• Cover