Dec 30, 2022
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Talley Vineyards
| Owner(s) | Brian Talley |
| Web site | www.talleyvineyards.com |
| Link to this site |
The Talley family has been farming in the Arroyo Grande Valley since 1948 when Oliver Talley established Talley Farms. Originally vegetable farmers, Oliver’s son, Don, began planting grapes in the 1970s on the farm’s steep hillsides that had been devoted to avocado trees. The first Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir was produced in 1986 from early Rincon Vineyard plantings after winemaker Steve Rasmussen was lured away from Corbett Canyon. In 1991, a modern 8,500 square foot winery was completed at the foot of the Rincon Vineyard. Brian Talley, the third generation of Talleys to graduate from University California Berkeley, assumed control of winery operations when the winery opened. Initially he worked with Rasmussen in developing the Talley style, but would eventually concentrate on the viticulture side of the family business. A barrel storage facility and tasting room was added to the property by 2002. After 20 years at the winery, an unusually long tenure among today’s often itinerant winemakers, Rasmussen was replaced by Leslie Mead who came from Bonny Doon. In July 2010, Eric Johnson, who joined Talley Vineyards in 2007, became winemaker.
Talley Vineyards now farms 190 acres of vineyards in the Edna and Arroyo Grande Valleys. There are three vineyards producing Pinot Noir: Rincon (95 total acres, 38 acres of Pinot Noir), Rosemary’s (28 total acres, 17 acres of Pinot Noir) and Stone Corral (27 acres all Pinot Noir). Single-vineyard Pinot Noirs from these vineyards are quickly sold to members of Talley's preferred customer list. All of the premium wines are fermented with native yeasts and with a few exceptions, bottled unfined and unfiltered. A second, value-priced label is Bishop's Peak. Total production of both labels is 35,000 cases annually.
A very nice tasting room is open daily in Arroyo Grande at the winery from 10:30-4:30.
Articles About Talley Vineyards
Pinot Briefs (9.38 2/22/2014)
Recently Tasted California Pinot Noir (10.43 11/30/2016)
Recently Tasted Chardonnay (10.43 11/30/2016)
Sips of Pinot (8.26 11/24/2010)
Small Sips of Pinot (6.58 5/7/2008)
Talley Vineyards: Classic & Dependable (7.12 2/12/2009)
Wine Spectator Smackdown (8.9 1/22/2010)
Reviewed Wines
2018 Talley Vineyards Rosemary’s Vineyard Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 575 cases, $80.
·
Moderate garnet color in the glass. Plenty of sweet Pinot perfume including aromas of cherry, baking spices,
and red rose petal. Moderately rich flavors of black cherry and blackberry framed by silky tannins and a
compliment of oak. Lustrous and giving, with a grand finish. Still terrific when tasted two days later from a
previously opened bottle.
Score: 95.
Reviewed September 19, 2021
ARTICLE »
2014 Talley Vineyards Rosemary’s Vineyard Arroyo Grande Chardonnay
14.1% alc., 425 cases, $45. SIP
Certified Sustainable vineyard.
·
Light golden yellow color in the glass. Aromas of lemon zest, lemongrass,
vanilla and blond caramel lead off. Somewhat lean and streamlined, with an array of citrus fruit flavors and very
little oak seasoning. Sophisticated, with appealing restraint and refinement, offering bright acidity, and finishing
with a delightful burst of citrus.
Score: 92.
Reviewed December 1, 2016
ARTICLE »
2014 Talley Vineyards Rosemary’s Vineyard Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 625 cases, $70.
Three generations of family farming in the coastal San Louis Obispo County. The wine is grown, produced and
bottled by Talley Vineyards. SIP Certified Sustainable.
·
Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. The
nose sports deep aromas of dark red fruits and sous-bois. Modest in weight, with a focus on dark red cherry
and raspberry fruit flavors with an earthen riff. Barrel treatment is gracious. The tannins are supportive, the
mouthfeel is silky, and there is good length on the acid-fueled, lip-smacking finish.
Score: 91.
Reviewed December 1, 2016
ARTICLE »
2008 Talley Vineyards Rincon Vineyard Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 375 cases, $50.
·
Deep reddish-purple color in the glass. The nose is clamped down and it is difficult to coax out any fruit. Oak
vanillin aroma is about all you get. Dense and tasty essence of purple fruits with firm tannins. An impressive
mouthful of fruit but needs cellaring to integrate the tannins and oak and come out of its shell. Find a good
steak or short ribs to accompany this wine if you open it now. Good.
Reviewed November 24, 2010
ARTICLE »
2008 Talley Vineyards Rosemary’s Vineyard Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 400 cases, $60.
·
Deep dark reddish-purple color in the glass. More giving than the Rincon bottling offering pleasing aromas and
flavors of red and black fruits especially black cherries and strawberries, all nicely spiced. Big-boned and fruit
driven with healthy tannins. Needs a few years in the cellar for optimum enjoyment. Very good.
Reviewed November 24, 2010
ARTICLE »
2006 Talley Vineyards Estate Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., $36. 82%
Rincon Vineyard fruit and 18% Rosemary’s Vineyard fruit. Yields were 1.4 tons per acre.
Aged 15 months in 30% new French oak barrels.
·
Deep red fruits with a touch of stem
and herbs. Moderately light in body, pure and bright in nature, soft and silky in texture,
with pleasing balance. Fine, but no better than many entry level California Pinot Noirs
priced less.
Reviewed February 12, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 Talley Vineyards Stone Corral Vineyard Edna Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 190 cases, $50. Yields
2.6 tons per acre. Aged 16 months on the lees in 35% new French oak barrels.
·
This wine opens beautifully in
the glass revealing scents of demure dark fruits, spice, oak and pine. Well-composed dark stone fruits and
pomegranate with an earthy underpinning and notes of anise and chocolate. Ample acidity contributes to a
lively finish. This wine will reward cellaring as it just doesn’t grab your attention yet.
Reviewed February 12, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 Talley Vineyards Rincon Vineyard Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc.,
550 cases, $70. 2.1 tons per acre. Fermented with native yeast in open top fermenters.
Aged on the lees 18 months in 35% new French oak barrels.
·
Dark reddish-purple color.
Great nose composed of black cherries, herbs and toast. Darkly fruited, earthy and
primal. Dense but not jammy. Tannins are well-tamed and the finish shows lively acidity.
Reserved and not as forthcoming now as the 2006 Rosemary’s but equally well crafted
and very age worthy.
Reviewed February 12, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 Talley Vineyards Rosemary’s Vineyard Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 556 cases, $70. Yield 2.2 tons per acre. Fermented with
native yeast in one ton open top fermenters. Aged on the lees 18 months in
35% new French oak barrels.
·
Deep dark reddish-purple in color. Charming
aromas of black cherries, black raspberries and black currents with touches of
spice and soy and floral overtones. Richly flavored dark stone fruits with a
sidecar of oak. Very silky and elegant on the palate with a refreshing
liveliness on the finish. A very satisfying wine with plenty of punch but not in the least
over extracted. This beauty will age very well.
Reviewed February 12, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 Talley Vineyards Rosemary’s Vineyard Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 556 cases, $70.
·
Terrific aromatics picking up intensity in the
glass and bursting with bright cherries and berries with a hint of oak toast. Darker
stone fruits and currants on the palate veer but stop short of the ripe side.
Polished and caressing in the mouth with pleasing mineral and oak notes in the
background. A very stylish wine that will improve further with cellaring. POP 92,
WS 94.
Reviewed January 22, 2010
ARTICLE »
2005 Talley Vineyards Stone Corral Vineyard Edna Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 2328 cases, $55.
The 27-acre vineyard was planted in 2001 and is a partnership between Talley Vineyards, Kynsi, and
Stephen Ross.
·
Dark violet in color. Capricious and juicy black cherry attack on the nose and in the
mouth. Terrific grip and deft use of oak. An outstanding and harmonious wine in every way that needs
some time to fully develop.
Reviewed May 7, 2008
ARTICLE »
2002 Talley Vineyards Rincon Vineyard Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 380 cases, $65.
·
Slight orange patina on the rim. Very “Burgundian” with a bouquet of forest floor, loamy earth, herbs and new
leather. Well-herbed and earth-kissed dark fruits envelope the tongue and nicely seasoned oak compliments
the fruit. The tannins are pillowy. Still very fresh and perfectly balanced to go several more years. The most
“Burgundian” wine from California I tasted in 2008.
Reviewed February 12, 2009
ARTICLE »
2018 Talley Vineyards Rosemary’s Vineyard Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 575 cases, $80. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Plenty of sweet Pinot perfume including aromas of cherry, baking spices, and red rose petal. Moderately rich flavors of black cherry and blackberry framed by silky tannins and a compliment of oak. Lustrous and giving, with a grand finish. Still terrific when tasted two days later from a previously opened bottle. Score: 95. Reviewed September 19, 2021 ARTICLE »
2014 Talley Vineyards Rosemary’s Vineyard Arroyo Grande Chardonnay
14.1% alc., 425 cases, $45. SIP Certified Sustainable vineyard. · Light golden yellow color in the glass. Aromas of lemon zest, lemongrass, vanilla and blond caramel lead off. Somewhat lean and streamlined, with an array of citrus fruit flavors and very little oak seasoning. Sophisticated, with appealing restraint and refinement, offering bright acidity, and finishing with a delightful burst of citrus. Score: 92. Reviewed December 1, 2016 ARTICLE »
2014 Talley Vineyards Rosemary’s Vineyard Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 625 cases, $70. Three generations of family farming in the coastal San Louis Obispo County. The wine is grown, produced and bottled by Talley Vineyards. SIP Certified Sustainable. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. The nose sports deep aromas of dark red fruits and sous-bois. Modest in weight, with a focus on dark red cherry and raspberry fruit flavors with an earthen riff. Barrel treatment is gracious. The tannins are supportive, the mouthfeel is silky, and there is good length on the acid-fueled, lip-smacking finish. Score: 91. Reviewed December 1, 2016 ARTICLE »
2008 Talley Vineyards Rincon Vineyard Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 375 cases, $50. · Deep reddish-purple color in the glass. The nose is clamped down and it is difficult to coax out any fruit. Oak vanillin aroma is about all you get. Dense and tasty essence of purple fruits with firm tannins. An impressive mouthful of fruit but needs cellaring to integrate the tannins and oak and come out of its shell. Find a good steak or short ribs to accompany this wine if you open it now. Good. Reviewed November 24, 2010 ARTICLE »
2008 Talley Vineyards Rosemary’s Vineyard Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 400 cases, $60. · Deep dark reddish-purple color in the glass. More giving than the Rincon bottling offering pleasing aromas and flavors of red and black fruits especially black cherries and strawberries, all nicely spiced. Big-boned and fruit driven with healthy tannins. Needs a few years in the cellar for optimum enjoyment. Very good. Reviewed November 24, 2010 ARTICLE »
2006 Talley Vineyards Estate Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., $36. 82% Rincon Vineyard fruit and 18% Rosemary’s Vineyard fruit. Yields were 1.4 tons per acre. Aged 15 months in 30% new French oak barrels. · Deep red fruits with a touch of stem and herbs. Moderately light in body, pure and bright in nature, soft and silky in texture, with pleasing balance. Fine, but no better than many entry level California Pinot Noirs priced less. Reviewed February 12, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 Talley Vineyards Stone Corral Vineyard Edna Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 190 cases, $50. Yields 2.6 tons per acre. Aged 16 months on the lees in 35% new French oak barrels. · This wine opens beautifully in the glass revealing scents of demure dark fruits, spice, oak and pine. Well-composed dark stone fruits and pomegranate with an earthy underpinning and notes of anise and chocolate. Ample acidity contributes to a lively finish. This wine will reward cellaring as it just doesn’t grab your attention yet. Reviewed February 12, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 Talley Vineyards Rincon Vineyard Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 550 cases, $70. 2.1 tons per acre. Fermented with native yeast in open top fermenters. Aged on the lees 18 months in 35% new French oak barrels. · Dark reddish-purple color. Great nose composed of black cherries, herbs and toast. Darkly fruited, earthy and primal. Dense but not jammy. Tannins are well-tamed and the finish shows lively acidity. Reserved and not as forthcoming now as the 2006 Rosemary’s but equally well crafted and very age worthy. Reviewed February 12, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 Talley Vineyards Rosemary’s Vineyard Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 556 cases, $70. Yield 2.2 tons per acre. Fermented with native yeast in one ton open top fermenters. Aged on the lees 18 months in 35% new French oak barrels. · Deep dark reddish-purple in color. Charming aromas of black cherries, black raspberries and black currents with touches of spice and soy and floral overtones. Richly flavored dark stone fruits with a sidecar of oak. Very silky and elegant on the palate with a refreshing liveliness on the finish. A very satisfying wine with plenty of punch but not in the least over extracted. This beauty will age very well. Reviewed February 12, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 Talley Vineyards Rosemary’s Vineyard Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 556 cases, $70. · Terrific aromatics picking up intensity in the glass and bursting with bright cherries and berries with a hint of oak toast. Darker stone fruits and currants on the palate veer but stop short of the ripe side. Polished and caressing in the mouth with pleasing mineral and oak notes in the background. A very stylish wine that will improve further with cellaring. POP 92, WS 94. Reviewed January 22, 2010 ARTICLE »
2005 Talley Vineyards Stone Corral Vineyard Edna Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 2328 cases, $55. The 27-acre vineyard was planted in 2001 and is a partnership between Talley Vineyards, Kynsi, and Stephen Ross. · Dark violet in color. Capricious and juicy black cherry attack on the nose and in the mouth. Terrific grip and deft use of oak. An outstanding and harmonious wine in every way that needs some time to fully develop. Reviewed May 7, 2008 ARTICLE »
2002 Talley Vineyards Rincon Vineyard Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 380 cases, $65. · Slight orange patina on the rim. Very “Burgundian” with a bouquet of forest floor, loamy earth, herbs and new leather. Well-herbed and earth-kissed dark fruits envelope the tongue and nicely seasoned oak compliments the fruit. The tannins are pillowy. Still very fresh and perfectly balanced to go several more years. The most “Burgundian” wine from California I tasted in 2008. Reviewed February 12, 2009 ARTICLE »