Larner
It’s hard not to get emotional about this place. Larner Vineyard is where it all began for us. Michael Larner was the first person who took a chance on us as new and unproven winemakers, leasing to us an acre of some of his most prized fruit for us to farm our way. We are forever grateful to him for this opportunity that few receive. Since that day, Larner Vineyard has lied at the core of our winery and is the foundation upon which we have built all else.
Thank you, Michael.
Draped across a sand dune on the southern point of the Ballard Canyon appellation at nearly 600 feet above sea level lies Larner Vineyard. Here, 35 acres of southeast-facing slopes are planted almost entirely to Rhône varieties on soil composed of a four-foot layer of Marina Sand on top of chalk bedrock. This leads to vines that really struggle with little chance to uptake water. The resulting fruit is intensely concentrated with thick skins, silky tannins and exotic perfumed aromatics.
Today, we work with four southeast-facing blocks of Syrah that we lovingly call “The Sandbox.”
Source blocks: 5, 6, 19, 20
Source material: Syrah - 383 (101-14), 174 (101-14), 3 (110R), 174 (110R)
