Vineyard Article
Dos Rubios Vineyard
Last edited on 2/4/2013 by KurtK
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Dos Rubios, Santa Lucia Highlands
2011 is the second vintage release from Dos Rubios. The estate represents a new chapter in Testarossa's role is one of California's defining producers of small lot, vineyard specific Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Not content to merely purchase grapes, the Testarossa team has literally designed the Dos Rubios property from the ground up.
Like Testarossa (Italian for redhead), "rubio" is the Latin American term for folks with red or blonde hair. The name "Dos Rubios" represents the vineyard partnership of proprietor Rob Jensen and grower Kirk Williams, both fair-haired. The designation was also chosen to show the winery's respect for the innumerable farm workers of Hispanic descent who make up the backbone of the California wine industry. The Dos Rubios Vineyard is located in the heart of the cool climate, Santa Lucia Highlands appellation. The twenty-six acre property is planted to four Pinot Noir clones (Pommard 4, 667, 115, 37-Mt. Eden) and two clones of Chardonnay (17, 76).
Testarossa Director of Winemaking Bill Brosseau worked directly with respected SLH grower Kirk Williams in the design and installation of Dos Rubios. Every aspect of the Dos Rubios Vineyard project was laid out by Bill; it is the culmination of his twenty-plus years' experience in Central Coast winegrowing. The row spacing, vine density, rootstocks, and clones were chosen by Bill to perfectly match the site. The farming regimens, from trellising, to water management, to the organic practices are all under Testarossa's direction. Bill comments that "it was an exciting opportunity; being allowed to design a new vineyard from the ground up, in one of California's most famous appellations."
Bill continues: "from 'the dirt to the bottle,' we have complete control over every step of the process. Dos Rubios represents the 'next generation' vineyard where wine quality was reverse engineered, thanks to Kirk and Rob's interest to go beyond the status quo. Our philosophy of 'of pay now' (with passion and investment) versus 'pay later' (having to overhaul a tired, over-worked vineyard), allowed us to collaboratively work with Kirk and spare no expense on details of the estate:"
The 2011 growing season in the Highlands was one of the coolest and wettest on record. Happily, most of the fall rains that impacted other growing regions bypassed the SLH. The fruit was able to "hang" as long as necessary to achieve "phenolic" ripeness - flavor and acidity matched to the necessary sugar levels. The Pinot Noir blocks at Dos Rubios were picked mid to late September; the Chardonnay blocks on October 3 and 24.
Dos Rubios Vineyard:
Terroir
Soils: "Chualar" shaly loam
Elevation: 200 to 400 ft.
Orientation: Southeastern exposure
Climate: Region I: cool, Monterey Bay influence
Chardonnay
Acreage: 7
Year Planted: 2008
Yields / acre: 2 tons
Clones: 17, 76
First vintage: 2010
Pinot Noir
Acreage: 17
Year Planted: 2008
Yields / acre: 2 tons
Clones: Mt. Eden, 116, 667, Pomm 4
First vintage: 2010
2011 is the second vintage release from Dos Rubios. The estate represents a new chapter in Testarossa's role is one of California's defining producers of small lot, vineyard specific Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Not content to merely purchase grapes, the Testarossa team has literally designed the Dos Rubios property from the ground up.
Like Testarossa (Italian for redhead), "rubio" is the Latin American term for folks with red or blonde hair. The name "Dos Rubios" represents the vineyard partnership of proprietor Rob Jensen and grower Kirk Williams, both fair-haired. The designation was also chosen to show the winery's respect for the innumerable farm workers of Hispanic descent who make up the backbone of the California wine industry. The Dos Rubios Vineyard is located in the heart of the cool climate, Santa Lucia Highlands appellation. The twenty-six acre property is planted to four Pinot Noir clones (Pommard 4, 667, 115, 37-Mt. Eden) and two clones of Chardonnay (17, 76).
Testarossa Director of Winemaking Bill Brosseau worked directly with respected SLH grower Kirk Williams in the design and installation of Dos Rubios. Every aspect of the Dos Rubios Vineyard project was laid out by Bill; it is the culmination of his twenty-plus years' experience in Central Coast winegrowing. The row spacing, vine density, rootstocks, and clones were chosen by Bill to perfectly match the site. The farming regimens, from trellising, to water management, to the organic practices are all under Testarossa's direction. Bill comments that "it was an exciting opportunity; being allowed to design a new vineyard from the ground up, in one of California's most famous appellations."
Bill continues: "from 'the dirt to the bottle,' we have complete control over every step of the process. Dos Rubios represents the 'next generation' vineyard where wine quality was reverse engineered, thanks to Kirk and Rob's interest to go beyond the status quo. Our philosophy of 'of pay now' (with passion and investment) versus 'pay later' (having to overhaul a tired, over-worked vineyard), allowed us to collaboratively work with Kirk and spare no expense on details of the estate:"
The 2011 growing season in the Highlands was one of the coolest and wettest on record. Happily, most of the fall rains that impacted other growing regions bypassed the SLH. The fruit was able to "hang" as long as necessary to achieve "phenolic" ripeness - flavor and acidity matched to the necessary sugar levels. The Pinot Noir blocks at Dos Rubios were picked mid to late September; the Chardonnay blocks on October 3 and 24.
Dos Rubios Vineyard:
Terroir
Soils: "Chualar" shaly loam
Elevation: 200 to 400 ft.
Orientation: Southeastern exposure
Climate: Region I: cool, Monterey Bay influence
Chardonnay
Acreage: 7
Year Planted: 2008
Yields / acre: 2 tons
Clones: 17, 76
First vintage: 2010
Pinot Noir
Acreage: 17
Year Planted: 2008
Yields / acre: 2 tons
Clones: Mt. Eden, 116, 667, Pomm 4
First vintage: 2010