...a Carneros Grand Cru!
Ed and Camille Penhoet, Owners
Pinot Noir (Swan, 115, and "P-Clone") and Chardonnay (virus free Old Wente)
The Toyon Farm includes Ed and Camille's shared passions: beautiful horses surrounded by exceptional grapes. On a clear day, the view from the knolls allows views south to the San Pablo Bay. The Penhoet's planted specifically for Ancien back in 1998 with a subsequent planting of the P-Clone coming into production in 2009.
Carneros is a fairly large appellation, with rolling terrain yielding a variety of aspects and predominantly marine sedimentary soils. Drainage can vary, so for best concentration it is important to know soil depth and underlying characteristics. It is known for being a cool climate, and that is true. In fact, in some years, Carneros actually records cooler average temperatures than the Willamette Valley in Oregon during the actual growing season. The coolness is due to its close proximity to the San Pablo Bay, which is the northern extension of the San Francisco Bay. Morning fog is common, cooling the grapes and slowing photosynthesis and the developing ripeness.
The soils below are rich, red, alluvial clays. The soil is shallow, going to a depth of about 2-3 feet, below which is a hardpan sandstone that the vines cannot penetrate intermixed with shale. This limits vigor, making the vines spread their roots outward where they compete for limited nutrients and water. The resultant wines are textured and aromatic, with deep and long flavors on the palate.