Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/133302
THE PLACE Too Good to Pass Up by Michelle Ball / photos by Jeremy Ball NINER WINE ESTATES ACQUIRES JESPERSEN VINEYARD IN EDNA VALLEY, MAKING THEIR FIRST CHARDONNAY AND PINOT NOIR T o fully understand the impact of Niner's acquisition, one must appreciate its journey. In 2001, Pam and Richard Niner purchased Bootjack Ranch with the intention of producing the best wines possible by being 100 percent estate-grown and -bottled. Located a few miles east of downtown Paso Robles, Bootjack Ranch is planted mostly to Bordeaux varieties suitable to the area's warm climate. In 2003, the Niners purchased property on the Westside of Paso. There, they planted Heart Hill Vineyard to 46 acres of vines, mostly Rhône varieties. They hired a top-quality vineyard management team and winemaker Amanda Cramer, known for her expertise in working with Bordeaux grapes in Napa Valley. When the Niners created Niner Wine Estates and launched their wine in 2004, they had their hands full, so when Andy Blodgett approached them in 2006 about partnering in his Edna Valley vineyard project, they had to pass. Blodgett established Jespersen Vineyard on the northern end of the valley, planting 42 acres of vines in 2006 and 2007. With the first harvest in 2009, Blodgett contracted legendary Edna Valley winemaker Stephen Dooley, of Stephen Ross Wine Cellars, to make his first estate wines. Blodgett unexpectedly passed away in 2010, and when his family decided to sell Jespersen Vineyard, the Niners couldn't pass it up. According to Vineyard Manager Jason Yeager, the couple "always wanted to make Pinot and Chardonnay, and this seemed like the right time to do it." Jespersen Vineyard is quite the gem of Edna Valley. The property's strong maritime influence, silty clay loam soils and dense plantings all contribute to low yields, tiny berries and high acidity—a dream for producers of Burgundian varietals. 158 / the tasting panel / june 2013 TP0613_120-156.indd 158 5/23/13 4:57 PM