At Highlands 41, we believe the best wines are made in the vineyards. Our wines are crafted from 100% estate-owned fruit grown in the heart of Monterey County. With this amazing fruit, our winemaking focus is the purest expression of Monterey County Pinot Noir. Highlands 41 encourages you to find your adventure, and our pairing advice is no dierent! If you need a guide, we recommend grilled sausages, pasta primavera, baked salmon, and roasted duck.
The 2020 Highlands 41 Black Granite is a fascinating blend of red varietals sourced from our estate vineyards in Paso Robles. Zinfandel and Petite Sirah form the foundation of this wine, grown in our Creston Highlands Vineyard located in the rolling hills of the northeastern section of the Creston District AVA. The soils are derived from calcareous marine deposits as seen by the fossilized shells found on the property, which are unique to this area. 2020 was a relatively cool vintage in Paso Robles, giving the fruit extended time on the vine. We picked the grapes for this wine in several passes in October.
Once the grapes arrived at the winery, we removed the juice from the skins quickly in order to preserve freshness and imbue the wine with a lovely, light pink color. After fermentation the wine rested in tank for several months prior to bottling. Light and bright with a pale pink hue, our 2021 Maddalena Rosé shows notes of fresh strawberry, melon and yellow peach graced with accents of scented rose. With bright acidity and a zesty attack, this is a fresh, well-balanced wine, fruity but pleasantly dry, with a nice spicy finish.
Our Opaque 2018 Darkness brings its characteristic deep, dark red color, a sign of the richly satisfying wine to come. Juicy aromas lift from the glass in waves of black cherry, black plum and dark chocolate and are mirrored on the soft, mouth coating palate. Fifteen months of aging in French and American oak barrels - 73% new – adds a lovely spice note to this concentrated wine, which finishes with mature fruit notes and a touch of brown sugar, mineral and spice.
Maddalena Cabernet Sauvignon shows ripe red fruit, including raspberry, plum, and spicy black cherry. Barrel aging contributes notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak spice. The mouth is round with a rich, silky texture that is framed by soft tannins. Maddalena Cabernet Sauvignon is extremely food friendly, our Cabernet Sauvignon pairs well with a range of dishes. Enjoy with grilled steaks as well as hearty pastas.
All vineyard lots are fermented separately to preserve the individual flavors and terroir of each parcel of land. After fermentation, wines are aged in oak barrels from numerous American coopers. Careful blending creates the greatest degree of complexity and ensures consistency of style from vintage to vintage.
The quality of this vintage was excellent. The weather was ideal with a long growing season that provided great “hang time” for the grapes. Winemakers Anthony Riboli and Arnaud Debons work closely with multiple vineyards from various districts within Paso Robles. All vineyard owners are long-term partners in this process. Each vineyard lot is fermented separately to preserve the unique flavors of its terroir.
Our Opaque 2018 Petit Verdot lives up to its namesake, with a deep, dark red color that promises a profoundly rich and satisfying wine. Blackberry, currant and black plum dominate the palate, supported by mocha and vanilla crème. Aged for 18 months in French and American oak barrels - 79% new – this Petit Verdot shows great concentration and texture, spicy richness, and tannins that are long, soft and round. The wine has a long, powerful finish and the structure to age beautifully for a decade at least.
After harvesting the grapes for this Merlot on two separate dates, we fermented the fruit in stainless steel tanks and transferred the lots to small French and American oak barrels for 10 months of aging. The wine is bright red in color, with a shiny hue and pleasant aromas of red fruits, blueberries, and cassis. Similar fruit on the soft mid-palate mingles with notes of fresh earth, forest floor, and sweet violet. With nice acidity and a touch of spice, this is a well-integrated Merlot that finishes with soft, round tannins.
San Simeon Cabernet Franc is grown in a single hillside block in our Creston Highlands vineyard. This artisan wine is hand-crafted in small lots. It gains vanilla and spice aromas from aging in primarily French oak barrels. This wine features notes of red plums, raspberry and has well-integrated tannins.
Our Petite Sirah reveals deep, inky purple color. Aromas of blackberry, ripe plum, and thyme greet the nose. Aging in French and American oak barrels contributes notes of vanilla and oak. The mouthfeel is jammy and full-bodied.
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most recognizable wine grape varietals in the world. Though it's normally associated with Bordeaux and Napa Valley, our estate vineyards in Paso Robles produce fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon year after year. This vintage has bright aromas of dark raspberry and black cherry. Ripe flavors of plum and currant are complemented by nuances of cocoa.
The highly versatile Syrah grape is grown in many climates, but the coastal microclimate of the Pretty Penny Vineyard is ideal for the development of intense flavors and aromas, such as boysenberry, ripe plum, and pomegranate. Our Syrah reveals deep color, round tannins, and plush mouthfeel. The lengthy finish shows vanilla, oak and cinnamon notes from barrel aging.
After harvesting, grapes designated for the Grenache Rosé are gently crushed. The skins and juice remain in contact for several hours resulting in a lovely salmon-pink color. Ripe red berry, cantaloupe, and rose petal notes make this wine perfect for any occasion.
San Simeon Sauvignon Blanc is a bright, refreshing wine with intense flavors of citrus and pear. The nose reveals bright aromas of white peach and lime zest. Mineral notes express the rocky terroir of the vineyard. Our Sauvignon Blanc is fermented in stainless steel tanks at 55° F for several weeks. This long, cold fermentation preserves the delicate flavors and aromas of this variety. Immediately after the fermentation, 10% was transferred to neutral French oak barrels in which the lees were stirred for several months to add texture and depth.
Our Highlands 41 Cabernet Sauvignon is actually a single vineyard wine from our Creston Highlands Vineyard in the Paso Robles appellation. This is a stunning, steeply terrained site located along the rolling hills of the northeastern section of the Creston District AVA. Soils here are derived from calcareous marine deposits, which we know from the fossilized shells found on the property. These low-vigor soils combined with afternoon breezes that flow through the Templeton Gap are typical of the Creston District AVA, a well-regarded sub-appellation known for red Bordeaux varietals. In 2020 we harvested healthy Cabernet Sauvignon grapes with intense fruit concentration.
A dry climate with warm days allows for complete maturation of the grapes and creates ripe fruit flavors. The maritime influence of the Pacific Ocean creates very cool nights, which preserve the natural acid balance of the grapes. San Simeon Viognier is a bright, luscious wine with ripe peach flavors and tropical notes. The nose reveals bright floral aromas. Mineral notes express the rocky terroir of the vineyard. This structured and well-balanced wine shows a lengthy finish.
The skies darken, the winds howl, and the waves pound the rugged shore...Stormwatch! Steep hillsides and rocky soils produce the intense flavors and aromas of this Bordeaux-style blend. Dark, rich, and mouth-filling. Ripe flavors of blackberry and raspberry with touches of spice and vanilla. Enjoy the thrill of Stormwatch!
Our 2020 Highlands 41 Chardonnay comes from two estate vineyards in the Monterey appellation, Rancho Soledad and Loma Vista. Monterey is known for an extremely cool climate, with morning fog and afternoon breezes that allow for full development of ripe fruit flavors alongside the preservation of balanced acidity. The soils of Rancho Soledad derive from decomposed granite, imparting a natural minerality to its wines. In contrast, Loma Vista’s soils are well-drained sandy loam with fist-sized cobblestones that force the vines to reach deeply for nutrients, resulting in small, concentrated grapes. 2020 was a mild, well-paced growing season.
The epitome of Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon: San Simeon. On the nose, you encounter the unmistakable notes of our unique selection of French oak barrels with aromas of rich black fruits mingled with violets, cocoa, caramel, and toast. As it moves across your palate, this wine expresses ripe pomegranate and boysenberry progressing into notes of oak spice, molasses, and dried lavender. Enjoy a long finish featuring full body, distinct minerality, and refined tannins.
