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Mike Brown comes from Australia where blends of syrah and cabernet sauvignon abound. He knows there's a certain magic that occurs when the lively flavors of syrah meet rich earthy cabernet. Syrah is full of bright spicy berry flavor and a 30% infusion of cabernet adds a rich undertone of dusty plum and dried leaves.

Cabernet Franc is Buttonwood's workhorse grape. We use it primarily to blend with our merlot because it adds dimension and structure. It's also one of three components in Trevin, our Bordeaux-style blend. But we also bottle cabernet franc as a varietal wine. Its unique flavors and medium-weight body offer an intriguing alternative at mealtime. Enticing aromas of dark chocolate cherry add depth and complexity to classic herbal "franc" aromas. Juicy raspberry flavors follow on the palate before resolving in a dusky, smoky finish.

The 2000 growing season was gloriously normal, producing ripe cabernet fruit with great flavor. The grapes fermented for seventeen days before the wine was pressed off and barreled for two years in French oak. Sporting flavors of dusty plum and tobacco with a pleasantly dry finish, 2000 Buttonwood Cabernet Sauvignon offers the best in Santa Ynez Valley cabernet: attractive flavors supported by gentle tannins.

Marsanne is one of two Rhone varietals grown in the Buttonwood Farm vineyard. While interest in all of the Rhone varietals is increasing, Buttonwood remains one of the few California wineries to produce this unique white wine. 2004 Marsanne is a delicate beauty. Subtle flavors of fig, pear and spice tease the taste buds while the light body and pleasantly tart finish make it a fine accompaniment with many first course dishes.

The 2002 growing season was glorious with plenty of warm summer sunshine in our vineyard. It produced a small crop of merlot which we harvested in two separate lots. The crushed merlot was fermeneted with Pasteur red yeast for three weeks before pressing off, then racked to French oak barrels where it aged for nineteen months. The addition of cabernet franc adds structure and a bit of spiciness to the final product. Concentrated aromas of plum, cedar, and clove give way to flavors of forest floor, cedar, clove, black cherry and oak. A firm backbone of tannin supports the wine without getting in the way of the flavor and ensures the wine will age for years to come. But don't wait years to try it!

Sauvignon Blanc is Buttonwood's signature wine. Our warm vineyard location, gravelly soil, and winemaker know-how combine to create a wine that refreshes while exciting the palate with pleasingly tart sauvignon blanc flavors. Two thirds stainless steel tank fermenting and aging preserve the natural qualities of the grape and keep the flavors fresh and light. The addition of semillon contributes richness to both mouth feel and finish. You'll love the way 2004 Buttonwood Sauvignon Blanc captures our ideal climate in its tropical aromas and bright sassy flavors of lemon and ruby grapefruit. Sauvignon Blanc was made for seafood, especially shellfish.

Australian born winemaker Michael Brown doesn't envision syrah in the typical California style. Don't look for big jammy fruit bombs from Buttonwood. Rather, syrah from Buttonwood presents itself in an elegant, more streamlined package. Out of the earthy aromas of this 2002 Syrah shoot tendrils of red berry fruit edged with touches of cola, while flavors of black raspberry, plum, clove, and toasted oak follow on the palate. It finishes with velvety tannins and leaves a lingering trail of warmth down the throat. If you aren't familiar with Buttonwood Syrah, don't wait any longer to try this Australian inspired style of wine.

Trevin (our proprietary name for our merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon blend) represents the quintessence of our vineyard. Each vintage winemaker Michael Brown hits upon the blend that showcases the best elements of Trevin's three components. The 2000 vintage shows smooth black cherry and cedar flavors in a framework of warm earthy richness and solid tannins. As with all of our red wines, Trevin is a great food wine which will age gracefully for years to come.

The 2002 Devin blends substantial portions of both sauvignon blanc and semillon in a variation on our sauvignon blanc theme. 100% barrel fermentation, partial malolactic fermentation, and extended sur lies aging imbue this stunning marriage of rich semillon and sassy sauvignon blanc with light touches of oak and butter. The wonderful gooseberry and ruby grapefruit flavors melt into a slightly toasted finish which adds dimension and warmth to the sassy fruit flavors.

Labeled with an image from the brush of artist and Buttonwood partner Seyburn Zorthian, Hawk Red is named for one of the "natural partners" that populate the Buttonwood Farm Vineyard. As harvest draws near, hawks can be seen circling high above the vineyard, performing the essential service of discouraging grape-eating linnets and starlings from ravaging the vines. The mighty hawks of harvest are an awesome sight to behold and we are proud to count them among our fellow inhabitants here at Buttonwood.

Five years ago it seemed as though no "serious wine person" would be caught dead drinking pink wine. Embarrassing ghosts of white zinfandels past haunted many a wine sensibility. However, in just a few short years, dry roses have become perfectly respectable, even sought after by wine aficionados everywhere. And why not? Europeans have been quaffing rosy wines at lunchtime for eons. Roses are low in alcohol, light on the palate, you serve them chilled and, like sparkling wine, they go with just about anything. The succulent watermelon hue of 2004 Buttonwood Syrah Rose is the result of 4 hours of skin contact while whole cluster pressing after harvest. Cold fermentation of six weeks and four months of stainless steel aging preserve the just-picked juicy flavors that suggest pineapple and banana along with strawberry that follows through from the aroma.

Another use for our workhorse grape. From last year's harvest, this juicy wine with a fresh bouquet and generous flavors offers an easier version of the distinctive cabernet franc grape.