1867 visitors
| Blackjack Ranch is the product of 30 years of imagination and preparation. At the age of 14, I began studying the wines and winemaking of France and California. Two years later, I was fermenting small batches of wine in the produce section of my parent’s grocery store. By 17, I was collecting the wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy. Passion for all aspects of wine enabled me to envision the character of the wines I eventually intended to produce. In 1990, I invented and introduced a casino card game called “California Blackjack” in Los Angeles. The standard game of “21” was outlawed in California in 1873, but my game was different in that two aces was a “Natural” and technically that made the game “22”, not “21”. The vineyard was planted in 1996 and is named in honor of the game. Our first production vintage was 1997. The Tasting Room opened in 1999. | Solvang, CA
Phone: (805) 686-9922
Website: http://www.blackjackranch.com
Appellation: Santa Ynez Valley
Tasting Room: Thursday through Monday 11am to 5pm
Map to Blackjack Ranch Winery
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Chardonnay
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2005 Chardonnay Reserve
Wilkening Vineyard
I love this version of the Wilkening chardonnay. Actually it ranks up there with the 1997 as one of my all time favorites from this vineyard. Intriguing and fascinating with an aty ... morepical steely backbone. Somewhat laid back and destined to peak in 2008. This is an old vine chardonnay planted in 1981 on an east facing slope overlooking Ballard Canyon Road, just southwest of Los Olivos. Multiple layers of honeysuckle, pineapple, movie theater popcorn butter, coconut, papaya, and mango followed by a deep, long, lingering finish. No malolactic fermentation. Most guests score it around 94+ points. 554 cases produced.
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Syrah
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2005 Double-Down Syrah
Our most popular wine. Preceded by 90+ Robert Parker scores, this crowd pleaser features purplish black color. Rhone like. Incredibly ripe, rich, and bright fruit. Collaboration of ... more blackberries, blueberries, crème de cassis, and violets. Generous wine, juicy, smoky, earthy, jubilant and just plain fun. A hedonistic turn-on at a reasonable price. Always one of our most popular wines. Beautifully integrated Remond French Oak. We think this may be the most concentrated and rich version of this popular wine so far.
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Bordeaux
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2002 Allusion
A Bordeaux-blend of 50 percent cabernet franc, 25 percent cabernet sauvignon, and 25 percent merlot. Gobs of red and black fruit combine to make this a deep, intriguing wine. Licor ... moreice, cedar, black currants and spicy oak. Exuberance with plenty of depth, richness, and subtle complexity make this wine a "best buy". Putting on weight in the bottle and taking on an elegantly pretty velvety texture. This wine has at least a 10 to 15 year life ahead of it. We are now into our last pallet of this wine so if you want it, don't delay.
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Chardonnay
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2006 Chardonnay “21”
Its difficult to describe this wine accurately without sounding like a salesperson. Simply put you will not find a deeper, richer, chardonnay in this price range, anywhere. I drank ... more one the other night at Matteis and scored it 94 points. I urge you to load up on this wine. Remember, you know where to find me if you disagree. Parker gave the 2005 version 90 points. Although he has not yet tasted this new release I assure you it is one of the best chardonnay values in the world!!!!
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Chardonnay
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2005 Chardonnay “Black Cap Reserve”
Probably the single greatest chardonnay we have ever produced. This comes from the very, very special block immediately in front of the winery/tasting room. Clone 76 (Dijon) fruit ... moreoffers unbelievable concentration and complexity.
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Pinot Noir
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2004 Pinot Noir Alix de Vergy
Arroyo Grande
Quoting Robert Parker: (Highly Recommended) "Deep ruby hued, offering up sweet raspberry and cherry notes as well as good purity, cleanliness,and elegance. It could easily be mista ... moreken for a Burgundy Premier Cru in a blind tasting. Fresh lively acidity is also found in this impressive Pinot." Consume this beauty over the next 8 years. Old vine fruit from the LaColline Vineyard, Arroyo Grande, California.
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Pinot Noir
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2003 Pinot Noir “Alix de Vergy” Special Selection Reserve
This is probably the greatest Pinot we have every produced. Big, thick, chewy, earthy, black fruit pinot noir with Burgundian characteristics. Raspberry, violets, vanilla bean, smo ... moreke. Acidity perfect for food. Old-vine fruit, La Colline Vineyard, Arroyo Grande. This is obviously really, really good juice. “Miles” love affair with Pinot Noir could have begun with this wine. Most score this a solid 96. I urge you to try this wine but warn you that you will fall in love with it!
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Merlot
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2002 Merlot Cotes de Los Olivos
A vibrant, well structured, delicious merlot for everyday drinking. A dollop of cab franc to boost the bouquet. Deep rich saturated color. A mouthful of fruit accented by tasteful ... moreFrench oak. Black fruit. Tannic but sweet. Extraordinary value plus! This is a very muscular, concentrated wine not for wimps that is built to last many, many years.
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Syrah
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2004 Maximus Syrah
OUR "SIDEWAYS" WINE. Yes indeed, this is our featured wine in the film “Sideways”. In the continuity of the film, Jack and Miles taste Blackjack Ranch Maximus on “Monday” m ... moreorning following breakfast in Solvang as their first stop of the day. The tasting begins 30 minutes 16 seconds into the movie. The tasting room host proclaims: “This is our Syrah.” Miles lifts his glass to his nose and exclaims “Oooh!” Jack inquires: “Yeah, you like it?” Miles enthusiastically and emphatically responds: “That’s a BIG one!!!” (Our “Sideways” stills of their tasting are located on the east and west walls of the Tasting Room) The Syrah Maximus exhibits a deep ruby/purple color in addition to subtle, but sweet aromas of barbecue smoke, blackberries, cassis, licorice, saddle leather, and earth. It is a powerful, layered, ripe wine with moderately high tannin as well as admirable purity and persistence. Give it another 12-18 months of bottle age, and enjoy it over the following decade.”
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Merlot
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2003 Merlot Billy Goat Hill
A saturated purple color is followed by an extraordinary bouquet of espresso, black fruits, cocoa, dried Provencal herbs and vanilla, an explosive attack, admirable freshness, and ... moreimpressive concentration as well as thickness. Reminiscent of the 1999 which scored 93+ with Robert Parker. The "comeback" has begun. This now ranks among our three most popular tasting room offerings. Although Miles killed the market for junk merlot, this one comes from the largest hand-cultivated block of vines in Santa Barbara County (5 acres), all tilled and tended strictly by hand on a 40 degree vertical slope (one of the most stunning vineyard visuals on the Central Coast). Because of the steep slope, the soil is thin and the intensity of this wine results from the struggle these vines go through on an annual basis.
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Updated on September 28, 2007
CrazyAboutWine recommends contacting Blackjack Ranch Winery at http://www.blackjackranch.com or calling (805) 686-9922 to verify the winery's location.
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