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From 1973 to 1983, Walter Schug made some of the most memorable Cabernet Sauvignons and Bordeaux-style blends in California history while Winemaker for Joseph Phelps Vineyards in the Napa Valley. His own Bordeaux blend exhibits the same finesse, intensity and ageability that have made his earlier wines rare and valuable collector's items. This complex wine has dense color and structure and features bright aromas of violets and blueberries, with ripe fruit flavors reminiscent of cherries, chocolate and cassis. Nicely integrated tannins and oak give it a rich texture and a long and elegant finish. It drinks well on release paired with rich meats and cheeses, however this wine will continue to improve with additional cellaring for up to 10 years.

Supple and generous, this is a well-structured Cabernet blended in the classic Bordeaux style. A ripe mouthful of currant and cherry flavors are framed by fine tannins and a touch of spicy oak. It has a classic bouquet bursting with berries, cassis and spice. A generous portion of Cabernet Franc and Merlot is blended in to add charm and grace, further enhancing the bright berry flavors and lively acidity. Try it with hearty stews, wild mushrooms, and grilled meats. Though ready to enjoy now, this wine will develop gracefully with 5 to 7 years of additional cellaring.

Our "Heritage Reserve" Chardonnay features separately vinified blocks of our Estate vineyard, blended for maximum complexity. Each block contributes a unique clonal and microclimate signature to the blend. The resulting wine shows intense fruit aromas of ripe pear and orange liqueur, complemented by toasty oak. Complex pear, apple and citrus flavors give way to a full-bodied texture and a long finish.

Chardonnay grapes grown on our cool-climate Carneros Estate vineyard underwent traditional European winemaking practices of barrel fermentation and aging on the lees (“sur-lie”). Additional complexity was contributed by Chardonnay grown on the Sangiacomo, Ricci, Stille and Wood Valley vineyards. The result is a wine with the powerful elegance of the finest white Burgundy. It has a ripe, spicy tropical bouquet with flavors that suggest citrus, pear and apple-butter. Well-balanced acidity gives it a crisp, clean finish, making it an excellent wine with food. Try it with cream soups, seafood, fowl, veal and pasta dishes.

This Chardonnay was produced in a lively, crisp style that emphasizes varietal fruit character. We achieve this by combining modern cold fermentation with traditional French Burgundian aging techniques. It draws its structure and spice from Chardonnay grown on our own Estate vineyards in the Carneros region of the Sonoma Valley. The cool Carneros microclimate contributes a spicy bouquet, citrus and tropical fruit flavors and good acidity for depth and balance. The blend is rounded out by elegant, buttery textures and ripe flavors of pear and peach which comes from Chardonnay grown in the warmer reaches of Sonoma Valley. Try it as an elegant aperitif paired with hors d'oeuvres, or lighter dishes such as soups, salads, seafood and pasta.

Our “Heritage Reserve” Merlot features the Sangiacomo family’s “Donnell Ranch” in Carneros, just a stone’s throw north of our own Schug Estate vineyard. This vineyard teams up with the Ricci vineyard in Carneros to show what cool-climate Merlot is all about. The extremely long, cool Carneros growing season allows the fruit to ripen slowly developing maximum varietal character and depth of flavor while retaining bright acidity. The wine is blended in the Bordeaux tradition using Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon for maximum complexity. It has a smoky, ripe cherry bouquet with hints of roasted coffee, a deep color and full-bodied flavors of cherry, cassis and chocolate. Try it now with lamb, duck and rich cheeses, or age it for 5 to 7 years.

This powerful yet elegant Merlot is blended in the Bordeaux style, adding Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot for depth and complexity. The Merlot grapes were sourced from the Ricci Vineyard and Sangiacomo “Donnell Ranch” in the Carneros district of southern Sonoma Valley, as well as the Sahbari Mountain Vineyard on Sonoma Mountain. These cooler microclimates provide the longer growing season necessary for Merlot to ripen slowly and develop maximum flavor. It has a spicy bouquet, deep color and exhibits full-bodied flavors of cherry, blackberry and spice. Try it now with grilled fish, pasta, lamb and steaks, or cellar it for 5 to 7 years.

2002 represents our finest vintage for Pinot Noir to date, so we have eagerly awaited the release of the Heritage Reserve bottling. The maturity of our own vineyards as well as several new growers we have added over the years has given us an even broader spectrum of individual lots to choose from, for making our top blend. A spicy bouquet of roses and cherries greets the nose, with flavors of black cherry, tangy cranberry and brown spices to follow. The long spicy finish is accented by a hint of toasty oak from 16 months aging in French oak barrels. We anticipate this wine will continue to age gracefully in the cellar for up to 10 years.

This classic Carneros region Pinot Noir offers a wide range of flavors and aromas, in the tradition of the finest red Burgundies of France. “Clonal diversity” is achieved by carefully blending several separately vinified lots, with each retaining its own clonal signature in the blend. The result, a complex wine with a rich bouquet full of cherries, berries and hint of spicy new oak. Flavors of bright cherry, currant and strawberry are followed by a spicy, smooth texture and elegant finish. This wine will pair nicely with lamb, duck, and even grilled fish and will improve with additional cellaring.

Our Sonoma Coast designation draws upon some new vineyard sources, including Russian River, that allow our winemaker added flexibility in creating blends of greater depth and complexity. Its vibrant flavors, reminiscent of raspberry and cherry, make it an ideal accompaniment to grilled fish and fowl, or barbecued meats. The Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is a value-priced option to Schug’s more complex Carneros bottling. Perfect for everyday drinking!

Inspired by a specialty of Walter Schug's home estate in Germany, this bottle fermented sparkling wine captures the lively character of Pinot Noir while retaining the delicate dry profile of a more traditional Blanc de Noirs. It has a beautiful bright red color, spicy raspberry bouquet and flavor, crisp yet delicately creamy texture and lots of bubbles!

This well-balanced Sauvignon Blanc is a blend of vineyards from very different microclimates in Sonoma County. Grapes grown in the cooler Carneros district contribute spice and acidity for excellent food compatibility, while the Sonoma County component contributes lush fruit flavors reminiscent of melon, honeysuckle and grapefruit. These flavors are enhanced by the creamy richness of fermentation and aging on the yeast (“sur lie”). This wine finishes with a clean, crisp acidity that makes it an ideal accompaniment to a wide range of soups, salads and shellfish dishes