2019 Temple of Flora, Cabernet Pfeffer, Lime Kiln Valley, Enz Vineyard

An incredibly rare bottle from one of California's oldest vineyards.

Welcome to the Temple of Flora. 💐

This exquisitely rare wine is 100% Cabernet Pfeffer sourced from Enz Vineyard, which contains some of the only plantings in existence. No joke – there are only twelve acres of Cabernet Pfeffer planted anywhere. Enz Vineyard is located in Lim Kiln Valley near Hollister, CA. This vineyard is home to some of the oldest grape plantings in California, with vines dating back to 1886. Once forgotten, the plantings were re-discovered by the Enz family when they purchased the property in 1967. The soils on this property are just as unique as the grapes planted – a combination of Limestone and Granite soils give the wine both beautiful acidity and minerality. Dry farmed with organic practices, we are incredibly grateful to have happened upon such special grapes.

So what the hell is Cabernet Pfeffer anyways? As it turns out, the wine world is still trying to figure that one out. Sometimes referred to as Gros Verdot or Pinot St. George, some believe this mysterious little variety is a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Trousseau created by horticulturist William Pfeffer. However, DNA testing at California UC Davis has determined the grape is identical to the rare Bordeaux variety Mourtaou and shares no relation with Cabernet Sauvignon. All confusion aside, you’re not going to forget tasting this medium-bodied lively red wine – this one's special.

Harvested in September 2019, we utilized partial whole-cluster fermentation and aged the wine in neutral oak for 20 months. To be honest, we didn’t know if there would be any wine left to bottle because once we tasted a barrel sample, we just couldn’t get enough. If you’re a fan of the classic black pepper + cherry notes often found in Zinfandel, Syrah and the like, you’ll love Temple of Flora.

Ruby red in color, Temple of Flora glimmers like sunshine on morning dew. On the nose this wine reminds us of walking through a rose garden, surrounded by cedar trees and a touch of ocean air. Dried cherries, a touch of cinnamon and a whole lot of black pepper envelope the palate in a silky embrace. The finish lingers, with an almost piquant acidity. Inspired by the marriage of flavors, we instantly knew this wine would go well with mushrooms. So, we hit up our friends over at Foggy Dew Fungi for a pairing and were blown away with how well the wine went with their Oyster Mushroom Duxelles Crostini with an Herbed Goat Cheese + Balsamic Reduction. Seriously, you gotta try it.

The name ‘Temple of Flora’ and the artwork depicted on the bottle come from Robert Thorton’s New illustration of the sexual system of Carolus von Linnaeu, which includes lavish depictions of flowers interwoven with poetic odes to nature’s beauty. Much like the delicate blooms enjoyed for fleeting moments in spring and summer, this wine will not be available for long. With only 25 cases made, each bottle is a rare specimen.

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Summer is over. 🥀