Dec 30, 2022
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Ladera Vineyards
| Owner(s) | Anne Stotesbery, Pat Stotesbery |
| Web site | www.laderavineyards.com |
| Link to this site |
Proprietors Anne and Pat Stotesbery have guided Ladera Vineyards for more than two decades and developed a reputation for Cabernet Sauvignon from mountain vineyards. Their first vineyard property was on Mount Veeder and shortly thereafter, they acquired the Lone Canyon Vineyard. In 2000, they bought a large, historic property on Howell Mountain. In 2008 they sold the Lone Canyon Vineyard and in 2016, they sold their Howell Mountain property to focus their energies on making wine. They also are the proprietors of Pillow Road Vineyard specializing in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Winemaker Jade Barrett, a veteran of Lewis Cellars and Jericho Cellars in Napa Valley, crafts the Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Sauvignon Blanc wines and most recently the wines from Pillow Road Vineyard.
Articles About Ladera Vineyards
Reviewed Wines
2016 Ladera Pillow Road Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay
14.2% alc., 139 cases, $50. This
vineyard is located southwest of the city of Sebastopol in an area known as the Sebastopol Hills.Old Wente
and Mt. Eden 809 clones planted Goldridge sandy loam soil. Whole cluster pressed, cold settled, barrel
fermented followed by partial malolactic fermentation. Aged on the lees in French oak barrels, 70% new, for 15
months.
·
Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. The nose leads with aromas of stewed apple, willow bark
and grapefruit. Very richly fruited with a plethora of yellow peach, pineapple and grapefruit flavors underlain
with notable pain grille. Slightly oily in texture, lacking vibrancy and finishing with a buttery note.
Score: 86.
Reviewed June 19, 2019
ARTICLE »
2016 Ladera Pillow Road Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
4.2% alc., 311 cases, $60. Calera,
Swan, Dijon 777 and Pommard 4 clones. Small amount of whole cluster, 7-day cold soak, drained without
pressing and aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 76% new.
·
Moderate garnet color in the glass. There is a
whack of new oak on the nose producing aromas of campfire embers and vanilla. Plenty of blackberry,
boysenberry and dried black current fruit is at the core, framed by pain grille flavor and a beefy note. The
tannins are well balanced and the wine strives to please with a plethora of fruit, but it is hard to find a lot of
Pinot character under all the oak.
Score: 86.
Reviewed June 19, 2019
ARTICLE »
2015 Ladera Pillow Road Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay
14.0% alc., 525 cases, $50. Ladera
is known for making mountain-grown Napa Valley wines but in 2006 they acquired a vineyard just 10 miles
from the Pacific Ocean with vines planted in Goldridge sandy loam soils. An adjacent parcel was acquired and
planted in 2008 to 7 acres of Pinot Noir and 2 acres of Chardonnay (Wente and Mt. Eden 809). Formerly the
wines were bottled under the Pillow Road Vineyard name but beginning in 2015, a switch to Ladera was
chosen. Gentle whole cluster pressed, barrel fermented followed by partial malolactic fermentation. Aged on
the lees in 60% new French oak barrels for 15 months.
·
Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. Love
able aromas of lemon curd, honeycomb, butterscotch and toasty brioche. Discretely rich in the mouth featuring
an array of flavors including lemon, lime, green apple, pineapple and a dash of complimentary oak. Slightly
viscous and highly satisfying in a fruit-laden style that has enough acid backbone to be refreshing. Full of
California sunshine and well done in this style.
Score: 93.
Reviewed March 17, 2018
ARTICLE »
2015 Ladera Pillow Road Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., 860 cases, $50. Pillow
Road Vineyard acquired by Pat and Anne Stotesbery in 2006 and an adjacent parcel planted in 2008 to seven
acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It is located in the Sebastopol Hills and vines are planted in Goldridge soil.
Clones are Calera, Swan, 777 and Pommard 4. In 2015, the wines from Pillow Road Vineyard were bottled
with the Ladera name for the first time. Grapes harvested at night, hand sorted and de-stemmed. 7-day cold
soak, gentle maceration, and aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 65% new.
·
Moderately light garnet color in
the glass. The nose offers a combination of Griottines and oak-driven smoke, toast, spice and vanilla aromas.
The mid weight flavors of black cherry, blackberry, and cola speak of the Russian River Valley, but there is
simply too much oak tattoo revealed in contentious toast and tobacco flavors. That said, there is commendable
tannin and acid balance and some finishing length.
Score: 88.
Reviewed April 15, 2018
ARTICLE »
2016 Ladera Pillow Road Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay
14.2% alc., 139 cases, $50. This vineyard is located southwest of the city of Sebastopol in an area known as the Sebastopol Hills.Old Wente and Mt. Eden 809 clones planted Goldridge sandy loam soil. Whole cluster pressed, cold settled, barrel fermented followed by partial malolactic fermentation. Aged on the lees in French oak barrels, 70% new, for 15 months. · Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. The nose leads with aromas of stewed apple, willow bark and grapefruit. Very richly fruited with a plethora of yellow peach, pineapple and grapefruit flavors underlain with notable pain grille. Slightly oily in texture, lacking vibrancy and finishing with a buttery note. Score: 86. Reviewed June 19, 2019 ARTICLE »
2016 Ladera Pillow Road Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
4.2% alc., 311 cases, $60. Calera, Swan, Dijon 777 and Pommard 4 clones. Small amount of whole cluster, 7-day cold soak, drained without pressing and aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 76% new. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. There is a whack of new oak on the nose producing aromas of campfire embers and vanilla. Plenty of blackberry, boysenberry and dried black current fruit is at the core, framed by pain grille flavor and a beefy note. The tannins are well balanced and the wine strives to please with a plethora of fruit, but it is hard to find a lot of Pinot character under all the oak. Score: 86. Reviewed June 19, 2019 ARTICLE »
2015 Ladera Pillow Road Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay
14.0% alc., 525 cases, $50. Ladera is known for making mountain-grown Napa Valley wines but in 2006 they acquired a vineyard just 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean with vines planted in Goldridge sandy loam soils. An adjacent parcel was acquired and planted in 2008 to 7 acres of Pinot Noir and 2 acres of Chardonnay (Wente and Mt. Eden 809). Formerly the wines were bottled under the Pillow Road Vineyard name but beginning in 2015, a switch to Ladera was chosen. Gentle whole cluster pressed, barrel fermented followed by partial malolactic fermentation. Aged on the lees in 60% new French oak barrels for 15 months. · Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. Love able aromas of lemon curd, honeycomb, butterscotch and toasty brioche. Discretely rich in the mouth featuring an array of flavors including lemon, lime, green apple, pineapple and a dash of complimentary oak. Slightly viscous and highly satisfying in a fruit-laden style that has enough acid backbone to be refreshing. Full of California sunshine and well done in this style. Score: 93. Reviewed March 17, 2018 ARTICLE »
2015 Ladera Pillow Road Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., 860 cases, $50. Pillow Road Vineyard acquired by Pat and Anne Stotesbery in 2006 and an adjacent parcel planted in 2008 to seven acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It is located in the Sebastopol Hills and vines are planted in Goldridge soil. Clones are Calera, Swan, 777 and Pommard 4. In 2015, the wines from Pillow Road Vineyard were bottled with the Ladera name for the first time. Grapes harvested at night, hand sorted and de-stemmed. 7-day cold soak, gentle maceration, and aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 65% new. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. The nose offers a combination of Griottines and oak-driven smoke, toast, spice and vanilla aromas. The mid weight flavors of black cherry, blackberry, and cola speak of the Russian River Valley, but there is simply too much oak tattoo revealed in contentious toast and tobacco flavors. That said, there is commendable tannin and acid balance and some finishing length. Score: 88. Reviewed April 15, 2018 ARTICLE »