The unique climate of Comptche, California produces some of
Mendocino County's finest Pinot Noir. Fifth generation
family owners Bill and Norman Shandel produce sustained yield timber, world
class blackberry jam and Pinot Noir from the Oppenlander Vineyard
with Dijon clones planted in the natural opening homesteaded
in the 1860s. Bill and family still live in the original
log home. Known as the Oppenlander Ranch for
nearly a century, the Shandel Ranch for over a decade
and Surprise Valley Ranch, Inc. since 1963.The inspiration for Shandel's
Oppenlander Vineyards was a single aged grapevine, located in what the
Shandel Oppenlander family calls Vineyard Knoll, which survived more
than 100 years.
In 1985 Bill and Norman planted a test plot of grapes to see what
would grow well. In 1997 Dijon Pinot Noir clones were planted and
today 20 acres of Surprise Valley ranchlands are in grapes.
The year 2002 saw the first release of the wine that is already an
award winner, garnering the following awards:
- 2004 El Dorado County Fair - Double Gold
- 2004 San Francisco International Wine Competition - Bronze
- 2004 Critics Challenge International Wine Competition -
Critics Gold
- 2004 Long Beach Grand Cru Wine Competition - Bronze
- 2004 Indy International Wine Competition - Gold
- 2004 Mendocino Wine Competition - Double Gold
- 2004 American Wine Society - Gold
This vintage is described as very dark for a Pinot, and aged in French oak, is highly extracted, concentrated and very ripe
with cherry and dark fruit flavors. This vintage wine was
produced at Salerno Family Winery in Healdsburg, California by
John Pepe. This is a complex wine, well balanced wine with a silky
rich on the palate flavor, with deep rich flavors of black cherry
and blackberry - 221 cases produced
Wine of this fine quality is uncommon from young vine and only
occurs with perfect conditions of soil and a cool climate.
Click here for other awards.
John Pepe is our wine maker and
Phillips Hill
Winery in Philo has used Oppenlander Vineyard grapes. These are
a couple of other sites to ponder -
The Pinot File and
Indie Wine
Makers
Our 2006 has been a very good year for us.
Awards include:
2008 West Coast Wine Competition
Best of class over $30
Gold
2008 International Eastern Wine Competition
Gold
2008 North of the Gate Wine Competition
Gold
2008 Finger Lakes Wine Competition
Silver
2008 El Dorado County Fair Wine Competition
Silver
2008 San Francisco Intl. Wine Competition
Silver
2008 California State Fair Wine Competition
Silver
2008 Indy Intl. Wine Competition
Silver
2008 Long Beach Grand Cru Wine Competition
Silver
2008 Mendocino County Fair Wine Competition
Silver
2008 Pacific Rim Intl. Wine Competition
Bronze
2008 Riverside International Wine Competition
Bronze
2008 Los Angeles Intl. Wine Competition
Bronze
2008 Orange County Wine Society Wine Competition
Bronze
We produced over 400 cases. This deep red wine has
a lush concentrated entry, with full broad favors of ripe
strawberry/raspberry fruit, structured acidity, round and mouth filling.
It has tangy cranberry tailings leading to a long warm finish that
tapers very slowly.
To order by phone call 707-937-5400. We take Visa and Mastercard and will ship to any location. If you would prefer to
fax this information, please print
this form
and fax it to 707.937.3726. If you have any questions, please call
Wanda at 707.937-5400 or email
wshandel@mcn.org.
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