Sextant Wheelhouse Zinfandel 2009
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Blend: 86% Zinfandel, 10% Syrah, 4% Petite Sirah
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A little high in alcohol, as is the Paso Robles way, but really a very lush and pleasurable Zinfandel. Softly tannic and slightly sweet, it floods the mouth with ripe flavors of raspberries, black cherries, mocha, cinnamon and pepper.
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SEXTANT (SEKS’TANT) an old-world instrument using the sun, stars, and horizon to navigate across open water.
Established: 2004
At Sextant Wines we are devoted to expanding the horizons of the Central Coast wine region by utilizing the unmatchable terroir with old world varietal selections. This allows us to grow grapes to their optimal maturity, creating unique wines of supreme quality. We know you will enjoy!
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Family History
Proprietors Nancy and Craig Stoller have a deep-rooted history in the wine industry. The Stoller family founded Sunridge Nurseries in 1977 and is dedicated to producing the finest grape stock in the world. Craig is a third-generation vine grower following in his father’s footsteps. What sets Sunridge apart is their exclusive relationships with French, Portuguese, and Spanish institutions to import certified wine grape selections that can be traced back to the original mother vines in each of those countries. Today, Sunridge still uses some of the original grape rootstock Craig’s grandfather planted more than four decades ago.
The Proprietors
Craig joined the Stoller family business upon graduation from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 1991. He started out on the road learning about the wine regions, meeting winegrowers, and of course, learning about wine. Now as CEO of Sunridge Nurseries, Craig has enjoyed watching the industry grow while taking part in supplying vines to many winegrowers across the globe. His passion for high quality wine has led the journey in the vineyard while Nancy has focused her creative energy towards public relations and marketing for Sextant.
The Beginning
Sunridge Nurseries’ slogan has always been “Where the vintage begins,” so developing wines from these high-quality clones was naturally the next step. In 2001, Nancy and Craig planted a certified vineyard increase block in Templeton. “The purpose of this particular vineyard was to show wine growers the potential for good wines from these clones,” says Craig. The Stollers planted the newest selections introduced by ENTAV, the highest governmental authority in France responsible for preserving the best wine grape clones, which they evaluated for their clonal differences. Three years later they began to utilize the grapes and made wines from the different clonal selections.
Today
Visit Sextant at two distinct locations on the Central Coast. The Estate Winery is set among stunning views of the Paso Robles countryside on scenic 46 West and the Tasting Room and Gourmet Deli sit in the heart of the SLO wine trail at the historic Old Edna townsite. Both offer reserve tastings complete with exquisite service and knowledgeable staff. Take your experience a step further and join the wine club to access exclusive benefits including private events and members-only wines. From vines to wines, the Stollers’ story has come full circle as they have combined their passion for fine wine with their love of the ocean in creating Sextant Wines.
Unapologetically bold, spice-driven and jammy, Zinfandel has secured its title as the darling of California vintners by adapting well to the state's diverse microclimates and landscapes. Born in Croatia, it later made its way to southern Italy where it was named Primitivo. Fortunately, the imperial nursery of Vienna catalogued specimens of the vine, and it later made its way to New England in 1829. Parading the true American spirit, Zinfandel found a new home in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Somm Secret—California's ancient vines of Zinfandel are those that survived the neglect of Prohibition; today these vines produce the most concentrated, ethereal and complex examples.
Paso Robles has made a name for itself as a source of supple, powerful, fruit-driven Central Coast wines. But with eleven smaller sub-AVAs, there is actually quite a bit of diversity to be found in this inland portion of California’s Central Coast.
Just east over the Santa Lucia Mountains from the chilly Pacific Ocean, lie the coolest in the region: Adelaida, Templeton Gap and (Paso Robles) Willow Creek Districts, as well as York Mountain AVA and Santa Margarita Ranch. These all experience more ocean fog, wind and precipitation compared to the rest of the Paso sub-appellations. The San Miguel, (Paso Robles) Estrella, (Paso Robles) Geneso, (Paso Robles) Highlands, El Pomar and Creston Districts, along with San Juan Creek, are the hotter, more western appellations of the greater Paso Robles AVA.
This is mostly red wine country, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel standing out as the star performers. Other popular varieties include Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Grenache and Rhône blends, both red and white. There is a fairly uniform tendency here towards wines that are unapologetically bold and opulently fruit-driven, albeit with a surprising amount of acidity thanks to the region’s chilly nighttime temperatures.