Dec 30, 2022
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Lazy Creek Vineyards
| Owner(s) | Ferrari-Carano |
| Web site | www.lazycreekvineyards.com |
| Link to this site |
Josh and Beth Chandler and David Noorthoek, M.D. purchased the winery in 1999 from Swiss native Hans Kobler who built the winery in 1973. Chandler has a varied background including winegrower, chef, and landscape architect. The Chandlers have added to the original 19 acres of vineyards they obtained when they purchased the property in 1999, and now organically farm 40 estate acres. The original Pinot Noir plantings consist of multiple heritage and suitcase selections. The Philo winery makes about 3,000 cases of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer. The tasting room at 4741 Highway 128 in Philo is open by appointment.. The small production is sold primarily at the winery. Lazy Creek has a well-deserved reputation for Gewurztraminer as well. The Pinot Noirs offered include a NV Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, the Estate R.P.B. Pinot Noir and an Estate Old Vine Pinot Noir. The estate wines are bottled in handsome heavy glass with the Lazy Creek logo embossed in glass on the neck. 707-885-3623. The winery was sold in 2008 to Ferrari-Carano.
Ferrari-Carano winery pruchased Lazy Creek winery for an undisclosed sum, in July, 2008. Lazy Creek will continue to be run as a separate facility.
Articles About Lazy Creek Vineyards
Anderson Noir Valley Pinot Festival: After the Smoke Clears (8.16 6/8/2010)
Anderson Noir Valley: Trade Tasting (9.8 6/24/2012)
Pinot Briefs (10.49 2/26/2017)
Press Tasting of Current Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Releases (10.34 7/24/2016)
Results of Exclusive Press Tasting of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir (Mendocino Fairgrounds) (11.6 7/8/2017)
Sips of Recently Tasted California Pinot Noir (9.41 5/15/2014)
Tasting of Anderson Valley Pinot Noirs (6.28 6/3/2007)
Reviewed Wines
2015 Lazy Creek Vineyards Anderson Valley Rosé of Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.30, TA 0.62, RS .025%,
$22. Grapes were de-stemmed, crushed and cold soaked on skins for 6 hours before pressing. The press juice
was sent to tank for fermentation, blended in January and bottled.
·
Moderate pink hue in the glass. Enticing
aromas of blood orange, strawberry, apple and watermelon juice. A fuller-bodied style of rosé featuring flavors
of yellow cherry, blood orange and watermelon with the slightest dried herb note. Slightly creamy in texture with
good verve, and the slightest bit of alcoholic warmth on the finish.
Score: 89.
Reviewed July 24, 2016
ARTICLE »
2015 Lazy Creek Vineyards Estate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.4% alc., pH 3.75, TA 0.56, 286 cases,
$58. Heritage selections and Dijon clones planted in one of the oldest vineyards in the Anderson Valley.
Vineyard is certified California sustainable. Fermented in macro bins and small, open-top tanks. 3-day cold
soak, yeast introduced for complexity. Wines racked to barrels and final blend assembled in July and bottled in
August. Cooperage was 54% new French oak.
·
Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Demonstrative
aromas of cherry, spice and earthy flora really entice. Beautifully composed, with a plethora of spiced black
cherry and black raspberry fruit flavors framed by ripe tannins and deft oak enhancement. A savory note plies
the background of this highly enjoyable wine that finishes with impressive length.
Score: 93.
Reviewed July 8, 2017
ARTICLE »
2014 Lazy Creek Vineyards Middleridge Ranch Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.79, TA 0.53, 418 cases, $48.
120-acre property planted to 22 acres of heritage selections and Dijon clones. 100% de-stemmed, various
proprietary yeast fermentation, aged 10 months in 60% new and 40% older French oak barrels.
·
Moderate
reddish purple color in the glass. The aromas build in the glass over time, offering pleasing dark Bing cherry
and wooded path notes. The wine offers a palate of juicy dark red and purple berries enhanced with toasted
oak veneer. Silky in the mouth, with modest tannins and a pleasant, modestly long finish.
Score: 90.
Reviewed July 24, 2016
ARTICLE »
2014 Lazy Creek Vineyards Estate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc, pH 3.83, TA 0.51, 422 cases,
$60. Aged in 68% new and 32% older French oak barrels.
·
Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass.
The nose leads with hi-tone aromas of black cherry, black grape, anise and smoky spices. The tasty core of
black cherry, black raspberry, blackberry, spice and smoky oak flavors arrive with purpose on the mid palate
and persist through a fruit-laden finish. Some more bottle age will integrate the oak overlay further but the wine
is very enjoyable now.
Score: 92.
Reviewed July 24, 2016
ARTICLE »
2014 Lazy Creek Vineyards “Five Barrel” Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
15.2% alc., pH 3.75, TA 0.56, 115
cases, $85. A blend of the five favorite barrels in the cellar from two blocks of the estate vineyard, clones 667
and Pommard. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 80% new. Racked only once before bottling. Bottled
unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderately dark crimson color in the glass. Aromas of muddled black cherries and
blueberries lead to a mid weight plus styled wine offering an intense and sappy attack of blueberrypomegranate
fruit flavor backed by structured tannins. A hedonistic offering yet has seamless bearing on the
palate except for the finish when some alcoholic warmth appears especially as the wine warms in the glass.
Score: 91.
Reviewed July 24, 2016
ARTICLE »
2012 Lazy Creek Vineyards Estate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.65, TA 0.56, 257 cases,
$55. Release summer 2014. Named for the meandering creek that runs through the 95-acre property, Lazy
Creek is located a few miles west of Philo off Highway 128. The ranch is planted to 36+ acres of grapes
include an 8-acre block with a miniscule average yield that is said to be among the oldest Pinot Noir plantings
in California. The entire ranch has been sustainably farmed since its early beginnings 40 years ago. Heritage
and Dijon clones. 2-day cold soak, various yeast strains inoculated. Aged in 33% new and 67% older French
oak barrels.
·
Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Lovely aroma mix of cherry, boysenberry, rose
petal, white pepper, underbrush and oak. Full-bodied flavors of earthy black cherry, black raspberry and plum.
Serious extract that commands your attention but not jammy. Balanced tannins and complimentary integration
of oak. The finish is long and intense, leaving behind a fruit wonderland.
Score: 92.
Reviewed May 15, 2014
ARTICLE »
2009 Lazy Creek Vineyards Estate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.59, TA 0.62, 809 cases,
$38, released May 14, 2012. Heritage and Dijon clones in one of the oldest vineyards in Anderson Valley.
Partially whole cluster fermented. Aged 16 months in 28% new and 72% older French oak barrels.
·
Medium
reddish-purple color in the glass. Very ripe fruit profile on the nose and palate. Black cherries and black
raspberries are featured with well-proportioned tannins. A bit tart on the finish which shows some length.
Good.
Reviewed June 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2007 Lazy Creek Vineyards Estate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.45, 880 cases, $38.
Released in the fall 2009. Partial whole cluster fermentation. Aged 16 months in 30% new and 70% seasoned
French oak barrels.
·
Medium dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Subdued aromas of black cherries,
raspberries and underbrush. Rich, thick and sweet with sappy plum and boysenberry fruit. Good.
Reviewed June 8, 2010
ARTICLE »
2007 Lazy Creek Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 880 cases, $39. Release
scheduled for Spring . The last vintage crafted by the previous owners (Josh and Beth
Chandler and David Noorthoek, M.D.).
·
The nose is flush with dark red berries, cherries
and plums with a hint of alcohol. A fruit-driven wine with a spark of underlying citrus.
The prominent tannins and acidity overwhelm the fruit now but definitely worth revisiting
when released next year.
Reviewed June 5, 2009
ARTICLE »
2005 Lazy Creek Vineyards Estate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc.,780 cases,
·
Some
nice floral perfume at the start with tasty dark stone fruits and a velvety texture. Oak is evident from start
to finish and moderate tannins on the finish need time to integrate.
Reviewed June 3, 2007
ARTICLE »
2004 Lazy Creek Vineyards Estate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 640 cases.
·
Strawberry driven
in both the nose and in the flavors, this is a fresh tasting Pinot that has some drying tannins on the
finish it needs to shed. I like this wine for its purity of fruit.
Reviewed June 3, 2007
ARTICLE »
2015 Lazy Creek Vineyards Anderson Valley Rosé of Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.30, TA 0.62, RS .025%, $22. Grapes were de-stemmed, crushed and cold soaked on skins for 6 hours before pressing. The press juice was sent to tank for fermentation, blended in January and bottled. · Moderate pink hue in the glass. Enticing aromas of blood orange, strawberry, apple and watermelon juice. A fuller-bodied style of rosé featuring flavors of yellow cherry, blood orange and watermelon with the slightest dried herb note. Slightly creamy in texture with good verve, and the slightest bit of alcoholic warmth on the finish. Score: 89. Reviewed July 24, 2016 ARTICLE »
2015 Lazy Creek Vineyards Estate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.4% alc., pH 3.75, TA 0.56, 286 cases, $58. Heritage selections and Dijon clones planted in one of the oldest vineyards in the Anderson Valley. Vineyard is certified California sustainable. Fermented in macro bins and small, open-top tanks. 3-day cold soak, yeast introduced for complexity. Wines racked to barrels and final blend assembled in July and bottled in August. Cooperage was 54% new French oak. · Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Demonstrative aromas of cherry, spice and earthy flora really entice. Beautifully composed, with a plethora of spiced black cherry and black raspberry fruit flavors framed by ripe tannins and deft oak enhancement. A savory note plies the background of this highly enjoyable wine that finishes with impressive length. Score: 93. Reviewed July 8, 2017 ARTICLE »
2014 Lazy Creek Vineyards Middleridge Ranch Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.79, TA 0.53, 418 cases, $48. 120-acre property planted to 22 acres of heritage selections and Dijon clones. 100% de-stemmed, various proprietary yeast fermentation, aged 10 months in 60% new and 40% older French oak barrels. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. The aromas build in the glass over time, offering pleasing dark Bing cherry and wooded path notes. The wine offers a palate of juicy dark red and purple berries enhanced with toasted oak veneer. Silky in the mouth, with modest tannins and a pleasant, modestly long finish. Score: 90. Reviewed July 24, 2016 ARTICLE »
2014 Lazy Creek Vineyards Estate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc, pH 3.83, TA 0.51, 422 cases, $60. Aged in 68% new and 32% older French oak barrels. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. The nose leads with hi-tone aromas of black cherry, black grape, anise and smoky spices. The tasty core of black cherry, black raspberry, blackberry, spice and smoky oak flavors arrive with purpose on the mid palate and persist through a fruit-laden finish. Some more bottle age will integrate the oak overlay further but the wine is very enjoyable now. Score: 92. Reviewed July 24, 2016 ARTICLE »
2014 Lazy Creek Vineyards “Five Barrel” Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
15.2% alc., pH 3.75, TA 0.56, 115 cases, $85. A blend of the five favorite barrels in the cellar from two blocks of the estate vineyard, clones 667 and Pommard. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 80% new. Racked only once before bottling. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately dark crimson color in the glass. Aromas of muddled black cherries and blueberries lead to a mid weight plus styled wine offering an intense and sappy attack of blueberrypomegranate fruit flavor backed by structured tannins. A hedonistic offering yet has seamless bearing on the palate except for the finish when some alcoholic warmth appears especially as the wine warms in the glass. Score: 91. Reviewed July 24, 2016 ARTICLE »
2012 Lazy Creek Vineyards Estate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.65, TA 0.56, 257 cases, $55. Release summer 2014. Named for the meandering creek that runs through the 95-acre property, Lazy Creek is located a few miles west of Philo off Highway 128. The ranch is planted to 36+ acres of grapes include an 8-acre block with a miniscule average yield that is said to be among the oldest Pinot Noir plantings in California. The entire ranch has been sustainably farmed since its early beginnings 40 years ago. Heritage and Dijon clones. 2-day cold soak, various yeast strains inoculated. Aged in 33% new and 67% older French oak barrels. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Lovely aroma mix of cherry, boysenberry, rose petal, white pepper, underbrush and oak. Full-bodied flavors of earthy black cherry, black raspberry and plum. Serious extract that commands your attention but not jammy. Balanced tannins and complimentary integration of oak. The finish is long and intense, leaving behind a fruit wonderland. Score: 92. Reviewed May 15, 2014 ARTICLE »
2009 Lazy Creek Vineyards Estate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.59, TA 0.62, 809 cases, $38, released May 14, 2012. Heritage and Dijon clones in one of the oldest vineyards in Anderson Valley. Partially whole cluster fermented. Aged 16 months in 28% new and 72% older French oak barrels. · Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. Very ripe fruit profile on the nose and palate. Black cherries and black raspberries are featured with well-proportioned tannins. A bit tart on the finish which shows some length. Good. Reviewed June 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2007 Lazy Creek Vineyards Estate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.45, 880 cases, $38. Released in the fall 2009. Partial whole cluster fermentation. Aged 16 months in 30% new and 70% seasoned French oak barrels. · Medium dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Subdued aromas of black cherries, raspberries and underbrush. Rich, thick and sweet with sappy plum and boysenberry fruit. Good. Reviewed June 8, 2010 ARTICLE »
2007 Lazy Creek Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 880 cases, $39. Release scheduled for Spring . The last vintage crafted by the previous owners (Josh and Beth Chandler and David Noorthoek, M.D.). · The nose is flush with dark red berries, cherries and plums with a hint of alcohol. A fruit-driven wine with a spark of underlying citrus. The prominent tannins and acidity overwhelm the fruit now but definitely worth revisiting when released next year. Reviewed June 5, 2009 ARTICLE »
2005 Lazy Creek Vineyards Estate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc.,780 cases, · Some nice floral perfume at the start with tasty dark stone fruits and a velvety texture. Oak is evident from start to finish and moderate tannins on the finish need time to integrate. Reviewed June 3, 2007 ARTICLE »
2004 Lazy Creek Vineyards Estate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 640 cases. · Strawberry driven in both the nose and in the flavors, this is a fresh tasting Pinot that has some drying tannins on the finish it needs to shed. I like this wine for its purity of fruit. Reviewed June 3, 2007 ARTICLE »