McPrice Myers High on the Hog Red Blend 2023

Viticulture

Grapes sourced from Paso Robles AVA

Vinification

All varieties were fermented individually. Fruit was destemmed, 3-5 day cold soak, fermented in stainless steel and concrete tanks and small open top bins. 16 months of elevage in neutral 500-liter puncheons, 350-liter cognacs, and 225-, 228-, and 265-liter barriques.

Tasting notes

Black currants, blackberries, bramble spice, ripened blueberries, holiday baking spices, dark chocolate. Soft tannins and lifted fruit-filled aromatics make this a versatile red wine.

Winery Description

Named the 2024 San Luis Obispo County Winemaker of the Year, McPrice is a winemaker who has been solemnly crafting distinctive, terroir-driven wines on California's Central Coast since 2002. Known as “Mac,” McPrice Myers takes his Irish paternal surname as his first name and uses the traditional Irish Claddagh symbol as the winery's logo.

At the age of 19 he began working at Trader Joe's and once he reached 21 he was accepted into the company's in-house wine program, which gave him the opportunity to learn about the fine wines of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, and California in France that were only available in their stores. This experience inspired him to save up and at the age of 25, he drove his own truck to Santa Barbara's Santa Maria Valley and eventually to Paso Robles, where he purchased a ton of Syrah from Lerner Vineyards in 2002. McPrice's “soil first” approach to winemaking became well known to local farmers and ranchers, and he built solid relationships with local grape growers in Paso Robles. 

With a focus on “the land,” McPrice established a winery and tasting room in 2014 on the third-highest hill in Paso Robles, a site that was previously the first Paso Robles winery. On a clear day, you can see as far as Big Sur and the Pinnacles. The vineyards have five different soil types, with steep slopes ranging from 450 to 610 meters in elevation, and are about 19 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean.