Sans Liege Cotes du Coast 2019

Viticulture

Viognier - Bien Nacido, White Hawk;
Roussanne - Alta Colina, Santa Barbara Highlands;
Grenache Blanc - Alta Colina, Kopack, Last Frontier;
Marsanne - Bien Nacido; Clairette - Melange du Rhone

Vinification

42% Viognier, 17% Roussanne, 17% Marsanne,16% Grenache Blanc, 8% Clairette

9% New Puncheon, 9% Third Fill Puncheon 17% Third Fill French Barrique, 57% Neutral French Barrique,19% Stainless Steel

Tasting notes

Returning from a stroll in the early ocean air you smell the honeysuckle and lilac which delicately climb the front wall of the cottage. White strawberries emerge from their calyxes along the pathway made of river rock which leads you to the door. You are met with aromas of vanilla bean, melon, lime zest & guava as you approach and take pause, beholden to this wonderful space on the coast.

Producer Description

After several years learning from and working for some of the Central Coast's most sought-after producers, owner/winemaker Curt Schalchlin, decided to venture off on his own path. In doing so, he felt that his wines were not a homage to wines made before his, but a new, original creation of his own. Sans Liege, which means "without allegiance," represents the spirit he is trying to achieve with his winemaking. Curt's wines are divided into two labels, the San Liege Lines, which are Rhone Blends, and his Groundwork wines, which are single Rhone varietals.   We have found his "Groundwork" lineup represents one heck of a value and we started off with two of his best Groundwork offerings, his Syrah and Grenache Blanc. 

Curt sources grapes from a variety of vineyards across the Central Coast. Curt trusts more in the intuition of the microcosms of each vineyard site and vine to guide his work through each vintage.  Tending fruit in vineyards from Paso Robles down to Santa Barabra, Curt feels the sites speak to him and guide him in his winemaking, thus the vineyards, he says, are his only true partners.

The Groundwork represents the raw fuel for Curt's wines. It is more about the vineyard blocks than about notoriety. The grapes tell a very real story of a place, with its own quirks and eccentricities, rather than trying to fulfill a haloed image of some other place. For in diversity lies the greatest opportunity. These fields provide the basic building blocks for the creative work that is channeled into exemplary wines.