Dec 30, 2022
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Tolosa Winery
| Owner(s) | Jim Eifird, Bob Schiebelhut |
| Web site | www.tolosawinery.com |
| Link to this site |
The name Tolosa is drawn from Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, which established the first vineyard in the Edna Valley and produced the most well-known wines of early California. Tolosa's sustainably-farmed vineyards are located in the coastal hills of San Luis Obispo. The winery's founders are attorney/winemaker Bob Schiebelhut and viticulturist Jim Eifird who formed a partnership in 1998 and began planting their Edna Ranch Estate vineyards in 1990. Today, the vineyards have grown to 740 acres, with the majority in the Edna Valley.
The top 10% of Tolosa grape production is dedicated to the Tolosa brand. Winemaker Larry Brooks focuses on small production estate wines including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah.
The winery tasting room features a cork floor and glass bar and has received numerous design awards. It is located at 4910 Edna Road in San Luis Obispo is open daily from 11:00 to 5:00. A self-guided tour of the facility is offered and a tranquil outdoor picnic area is peaceful. The wines are also sold online.
Articles About Tolosa Winery
Reviewed Wines
2017 Tolosa 1772 Edna Ranch Edna Valley Pinot Noir
13.4% alc., 902 cases, $68. Released November 5,
2018. A blend of five clones of Pinot Noir from five blocks of Edna Ranch Estate Vineyard. Aged 9 months in
French oak barrels, 30% new.
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Aromas of cherry, sandalwood and
espresso lead to a charming middleweight offering with a tasty core of vivid cherry and raspberry fruits, baking
spices and tobacco. Silky in the mouth, with gracious tannins and a very long cherry-fueled finish. Better oak
integration and more enjoyment when tasted from a bottle a day after opening.
Score: 91.
Reviewed June 19, 2019
ARTICLE »
2017 Tolosa Hollister Edna Ranch Edna Valley Pinot Noir
14.6%
alc., $125. Black label. Released November 5, 2018. Composed
primarily from the Hollister portion of Edna Ranch planted to clone
“828”. Aged 9 months in French oak barrels, 25% new.
·
Moderate
garnet color in the glass. Aromas of black fruit reduction, spice, dark
chocolate and fertile earth. Mid weight plus in style, offering rich flavors
of black cherry and blackberry with oak embellishment. A masculine
wine that is deeper and darker flavored than the 1772 bottling with a
bigger tannic backbone. Silken in texture, with nice harmony including
alcohol integration, and a noticeable long and fruity finish. A good steak
wine that would benefit from decanting.
Score: 92.
Reviewed June 19, 2019
ARTICLE »
2017 Tolosa Primera Edna Ranch Edna Valley Pinot Noir
13.2% alc., $140. Heavy bottle, wax closure,
metal badge. Released November 5, 2018. A blend of the best of the best. The best of up too 100 small lots
from Edna Ranch are chosen. Aged 9 months in French oak barrels, 25% new.
·
Moderately light garnet color in
the glass. The nose opens slowly to release heady aromas of cherry, dark rose petal, underbrush, toast and
burnt tobacco. A cherry-fueled mid weighted wine with a noticeable imprint of oak. The tannins are sleek, the
mouthfeel is silky and the wine is quite approachable. This wine is a more feminine offering with redder fruit
and a pleasing, but not persistent finish. Unchanged when tasted a day after opening.
Score: 91.
Reviewed June 19, 2019
ARTICLE »
2017 Tolosa 1772 Edna Ranch Edna Valley Pinot Noir
13.4% alc., 902 cases, $68. Released November 5, 2018. A blend of five clones of Pinot Noir from five blocks of Edna Ranch Estate Vineyard. Aged 9 months in French oak barrels, 30% new. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Aromas of cherry, sandalwood and espresso lead to a charming middleweight offering with a tasty core of vivid cherry and raspberry fruits, baking spices and tobacco. Silky in the mouth, with gracious tannins and a very long cherry-fueled finish. Better oak integration and more enjoyment when tasted from a bottle a day after opening. Score: 91. Reviewed June 19, 2019 ARTICLE »
2017 Tolosa Hollister Edna Ranch Edna Valley Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., $125. Black label. Released November 5, 2018. Composed primarily from the Hollister portion of Edna Ranch planted to clone “828”. Aged 9 months in French oak barrels, 25% new. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Aromas of black fruit reduction, spice, dark chocolate and fertile earth. Mid weight plus in style, offering rich flavors of black cherry and blackberry with oak embellishment. A masculine wine that is deeper and darker flavored than the 1772 bottling with a bigger tannic backbone. Silken in texture, with nice harmony including alcohol integration, and a noticeable long and fruity finish. A good steak wine that would benefit from decanting. Score: 92. Reviewed June 19, 2019 ARTICLE »
2017 Tolosa Primera Edna Ranch Edna Valley Pinot Noir
13.2% alc., $140. Heavy bottle, wax closure, metal badge. Released November 5, 2018. A blend of the best of the best. The best of up too 100 small lots from Edna Ranch are chosen. Aged 9 months in French oak barrels, 25% new. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. The nose opens slowly to release heady aromas of cherry, dark rose petal, underbrush, toast and burnt tobacco. A cherry-fueled mid weighted wine with a noticeable imprint of oak. The tannins are sleek, the mouthfeel is silky and the wine is quite approachable. This wine is a more feminine offering with redder fruit and a pleasing, but not persistent finish. Unchanged when tasted a day after opening. Score: 91. Reviewed June 19, 2019 ARTICLE »