PARR WINES & PHELAN FARM
Cambria
California
Known for his various projects across California and Oregon - such as Sandhi, Domaine de la Cote and Evening Land just to name a few - Rajat Parr is a famous sommelier, successful author and talented winemaker who has most recently taken on a new project in Cambria.
Convinced that the most fundamental part of winemaking takes place in the vineyard and drawn north from his Santa Barbara home, he decided to set up camp between the mountains and the Pacific coast, and more precisely at Phelan Farm, a small family estate located just a few miles off the Pacific Ocean on Steiner Creek, which dates back to 1851.
The viticultural story of the farm started in 2007, when Greg Phelan decided to plant un-grafted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Rajat was later introduced to Greg in 2017 and by 2019 he had fully taken control of the farm, focusing on diversifying the vineyards with other cool-climate European grapes.
The vineyards are farmed according to a holistic approach, inspired by biodynamic, permaculture and regenerative agricultural practices.
The aim is to continuously contribute to the regeneration of the soil and natural life within the vineyard and its surroundings. To boost the vines’ immune system fermented treatments are used. These are made from an array of native plants such as nettles, lupins, horsetail, willow bark, and the use of local ingredients including honey from a local bee colony, kelp, seaweed, Pacific Ocean water, or fish bone emulsion powder.
In the cellar, all wines are spontaneously fermented and whole bunches are favoured. The wines are raised in old oak barrels before being bottled without any fining, filtering nor SO2 addition.
We currently stock a series of Phelan Farm bottlings as well as some of the Parr Wines releases produced from purchased grapes.
Pet Nat
Vintage 2022
Style Sparkling Rosé
Region San Luis Obispo County
Varieties Gamay, Pinot Noir
ABV 12%
Soils Sand, Marine Deposits
Farming Organic
Winemaking A 50/50 blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir. Fruit was harvested on the 11th of September. Small amounts of grapes were destemmed and left over night to macerate. These were then pressed into tank. The Pinot Noir was allowed to dry and then added to the Gamay fruit that was still fermenting. The wine was allowed to reach dryness before being transferred into bottle and riddled by hand until disgorgement the following Spring on the 17th of February.
Tasting Note
Freund
Vintage 2021
Style White
Region Santa Rita Hills
Varieties Grüner Veltliner
ABV 12.5%
Soils Sand, Marine Deposits
Farming Organic
Winemaking The grapes are grown in Spear Vineyard in Santa Rita Hills. These were harvested in September the 10th and underwent 24 hours of skin contact. The grapes are then pressed, fermented and aged in
500L Puncheon. No fining, filtration or SO2 additions were processed. The wine was bottle by gravity on the 24th of September.
Tasting Note Yellow apple notes, citrus and creamy notes lead to a round palate finishing on spiced white pepper notes.
Scythians White
Vintage 2022
Style White
Region San Bernardino, Cucamonga Valley
Varieties Palomino, Field Blend
ABV 12%
Soils Sand, Granite
Farming Organic
Winemaking The Scythians 2022 is made of a blend of old vine Palomino 95% and 5% of a Field Blend from the Lopez vineyard. Fruit was harvested on July 17th. The wine undergoes a partial skin-contact for 1 week and fermentation takes place in Sherry casks and old barrels, followed by ageing for 7th months. 20 ppm of SO2 was added during fermentation.
Tasting Note
Chardonnay & Savagnin
Vintage 2021
Style White
Region San Luis Obispo County
Varieties Savagnin, Chardonnay
ABV 13%
Soils
Farming
Organic
Winemaking Grapes are hand harvested, crushed and pressed followed by spontaneous fermentation in neutral barrels. The wine is then aged for 12 months in 500L Stockinger barrels and 5 months in stainless steel. The Chardonnay was harvested in September 26th and the Savagnin fruit a little later in October 3rd.
Bottling dates were determined by the lunar calendar.
Tasting Note
Scythians Misturado
Vintage 2022
Style White
Region San Bernardino, Cucamonga Valley
Varieties Alicante Bouschet, Palomino, Zinfandel
ABV 13%
Soils Sand, Granite
Farming Organic
Winemaking A blend of old vine Palomino and Zinfandel from Lopez Vineyard planted in 1912 in San Bernardino. Alicante is from Galleano Vineyard planted in 1912. The whole clusters are co-fermented in and ages in 1000L Foudres. The fruit was harvested on August the 5th. Bottling dates were determined by the lunar calendar.
Tasting Note
Scythians Red
Vintage 202
Style White
Region San Bernardino, Cucamonga Valley
Varieties Zinfandel, Alicante Bouschet, Mission, Grenache
ABV 13%
Soils Sand, Granite
Farming Organic
Winemaking Fruit is sourced from 3 different vineyards: the Lopez vineyard planted in 1912 San Bernardino; Francis Road vineyard, planted in 1905 and Galleano vineyard planted in 1912 (Cucamonga Valley AVA). The fruit is co-fermented in whole clusters and aged in old barrels. No fining, no filtration and only 20 ppm of SO2 added before fermentation. Bottling dates were determined by the lunar calendar.
Tasting Note
Leon
Vintage 2022
Style Red
Region San Luis Obispo County
Varieties Trousseau, Poulsard, Pinot Noir
ABV
Soils Clay, Felsite
Farming Biodynamic, Permaculture, Regenerative
Winemaking A Jura inspired blend made with 6 different varieties. All the grapes are harvested by hand, de-stemmed and are spontaneously co-fermented on the skins. Both vinification and élevage takes place in neutral old oak barrels. The wine is then racked off the lees and immediately bottled by gravity with no SO2 additions, filtration or fining. Bottling dates were determined by the lunar calendar.
Tasting Note
Autrement
Vintage 2022
Style Red
Region San Luis Obispo County
Varieties Pinot Noir, Gamay, Mondeuse
ABV
Soils Clay, Felsite
Farming Biodynamic, Permaculture, Regenerative
Winemaking A Savoie inspired blend of Pinot Noir (50%), Gamay (25%) and Mondeuse (25%). All the grapes were hand harvested and de-stemmed. These were spontaneously fermented separately in stainless steel and aged in neutral oak. The wine was blended before bottling with no fining, filtration or SO2 additions. Bottling dates were determined by the lunar calendar.
Tasting Note
Mencia
Vintage 2022
Style Red
Region San Luis Obispo County
Varieties Mencia
ABV
Soils Clay, Felsite
Farming Biodynamic, Permaculture, Regenerative
Winemaking Grapes were hand harvested, de-stemmed and spontaneously fermented. This was followed by ageing in neutral oak. No fining, filtration or SO2 additions. Bottling dates were determined by the lunar calendar.
Tasting Note Beautiful candied blueberry, red cherry and black plums notes blend in with dried eucalyptus and violet notes.
Poulsard
Vintage 2021
Style Red
Region San Luis Obispo County
Varieties Poulsard
ABV 12.5%
Soils Clay, Felsite
Farming Biodynamic, Permaculture, Regenerative
Winemaking Grapes are harvested by hand in whole clusters that are macerated for 14 days in stainless steel. Ageing takes place in neutral oak. The wine was bottled by hand on the 27th of May 2022.
Tasting Note Elegant red cherry notes, rose
Trousseau
Vintage 2021
Style Red
Region San Luis Obispo County
Varieties Trousseau
ABV 12.5%
Soils Clay, Felsite
Farming Biodynamic, Permaculture, Regenerative
Winemaking Trousseau grapes were harvested in October the 17th. Whole clusters are macerated in stainless steel for 14 days, followed by ageing in neutral oak. No filtration, fining or SO2 additions. The wine was bottled on the 27th of May 2022.
Tasting Note
Gamay
Vintage 2021
Style Red
Region San Luis Obispo County
Varieties Gamay
ABV 12.5%
Soils Clay, Felsite
Farming Biodynamic, Permaculture, Regenerative
Winemaking Whole clusters go through ten days of carbonic maceration in concrete, followed by élevage in neutral oak. No filtration, fining or SO2 additions.
Tasting Note
Mondeuse
Vintage 2022
Style Red
Region San Luis Obispo County
Varieties Mondeuse
ABV 11.5%
Soils Clay, Felsite
Farming Biodynamic, Permaculture, Regenerative
Winemaking Phelan Farm’s Mondeuse single parcel is always made with de-stemmed fruit. This is due to the fact that the Mondeuse stems do not always ripen and can add astringent flavours to the wine. The late ripening Mondeuse grapes are picked and the fruit is macerated in stainless steel tanks, followed by élevage in neutral oak. No filtration, fining, or SO2 additions.
Tasting Note This is one of the most structured cuvées of the Phelan Farm single vineyards. Deep blackcurrant and black plum fruit are balanced by garrigue aromas alongside a touch of lavender notes.
Pinot Noir
Vintage 2022
Style Red
Region San Luis Obispo County
Varieties Pinot Noir
ABV
Soils Clay, Felsite
Farming Organic, Biodynamic
Winemaking The Pinot Noir grapes were half de-stemmed and the other half processed in whole bunches. The grapes are spontaneously fermented in large open top fermenters, followed by blending and ageing in neutral barrels for one year. The wine is unfiltered, unfined and no SO2 was added at any point.
Tasting Note
Apple & Mondeuse, Bottle Baby
Vintage NV
Style Cider
Region Watsonville & San Luis Obispo County
Varieties Apple, Mondeuse
ABV 10%
Soils Clay, Felsite
Farming Organic, Biodynamic
Winemaking Bottle Baby is the result obtained by pairing organically farmed apples from an orchard in Five Mile, Watsonville and Phelan Farm grapes, more specifically in this case Mondeuse. These are co-fermented and aged in old wood barrels prior bottling.
Tasting Note The Mondeuse here really comes through, offering beautiful dark fruit and a savoury character, almost smoky. It finishes salty and vinous. A rather serious expression of cider.