Winemaking

Wine Maker Adam Bauman.
Cabernet Sauvignon- Planted exclusively with Estrella Clone 8, Whalebone Vineyard’s south facing limestone slopes support vines bearing small clusters of tiny berries full of rich flavors and tannins. Our vineyard is comprised of four distinct blocks planted in soils with variations of depths as well as shale and limestone rock intrusions that ultimately shape the character of the wines yielded from them.  Our estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignons are some of the last grapes harvested in the entire Paso Robles region, normally ripening during the last weeks of October. 

Hand picking at full maturity, which generally completes after short, cooler fall days ensue, assures us of balanced wines fully expressive of our unique terroir.  We typically bring our fruit in at 24.5 brix, which keeps the alcohols well in check, and retain ample acidity to assure that the varietal flavors remain lively and vibrant.

Fermentation is done in small vats utilizing a combination of both open-top fermenters manually punched down, and traditional, pumped-over tanks.  Each method can add complexity of tannins and/or fruit intensity, depending upon a variety of factors, and the ultimate goal is to fully extract what each lot of fruit has to offer. 

Separately fermented and aged, each lot of wine is barreled in top quality French and American oak for 20 months.  We carefully select the finest barrels of each lot for our vintage Cabernet Sauvignon bottling, with the remainder blended into a major component of BobWine.  Bottled unfined and unfiltered, Whalebone vintage Cabernet Sauvignon offers richly classic Bordeaux flavors in a uniquely Paso Robles style.

BobWine – A truly special blend that has captured a wide following of wine lovers, BobWine has become our own “cult classic”.  By carefully selecting the softer, more approachable lots of our estate-grown Cabernet for the base wine of this blend, our goal is to craft a solid, fruit-forward claret-style red that ideally expresses the inherent flavors of Paso Robles winemaking.  Built around Cabernet Sauvignon, we utilize various top-quality supporting varietals to bring out the bold fruit character, and lush flavor potential in this wine. 

Meant for short-term aging and relatively early consumption, BobWine aims to please those seeking a wine with moderate complexity of tannins, and generous fruit character.  Using winemaking techniques that bring forward the supple fruit notes, and soften any aggressive tannin influence, we are able to create a synergy of blended varietals that focus upon the great ripeness and solid flavors found in our region’s reds. 

Using time-honored techniques for fermentation and barrel aging, we’ve managed to consistently offer this blend from year-to-year in an evolving flavor profile that accents those supporting varietals that perform particularly well in a given vintage.  The result is a wine that showcases the best flavors possible each harvest, without any constraints upon the components in the blend.  This creates an exciting new buzz as each successive version of BobWine is released, and provides our consumers with an attractive, individualized wine each and every year.

Syrah – One of the most widely planted varietals in our region, Syrah has become a favorite Rhone-style wine that is ideally suited to the warm days and cool evenings of the Paso Robles AVA.  A lovely companion variety to our Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah has quickly become a local favorite, with its deep pigmentation and attractive, berry-fruit intensity.

With many viticultural selections of Syrah to choose from, we’ve focused our winemaking upon the Australian Shiraz clone of this special variety, known for its intense spice and broad, supple fruit qualities on the palate.  Small lot fermented to extract optimal color and character, this intensely flavored wine is barrel aged in various types of  European oak cooperage for up to 22 months to further enhance its flavor profile and build structure for additional longevity.  As flavors of smoky, toasted oak and vanilla merge into the wine during cellaring, our Syrah evolves into a unique and deliciously fruit-driven wine with both an ultra-ripe character and a subtle finesse.

Noted for its great affinity for food, Whalebone Syrah is a worthy companion to roasted game and wood-grilled beef barbecue.  This wine’s tannins mature more rapidly in bottle than many varietals, giving it a distinct edge for those seeking immediate drinkability in a solid red wine offering.  Limited in production, Whalebone Syrah sells out rapidly in our Tasting Room each vintage.

Zinfandel – Widely known as California’s original red wine grape, Zinfandel has been heralded as a truly unique varietal in terms of its exotic, spiced flavor profile and bright fruitiness.  As a long-time local favorite, with vineyard planting dating to the mid-1800’s on Paso Robles’ Westside, we have adopted this variety as a welcome addition to our Whalebone red wine portfolio.

Well acclimated to the hilly terrain and rocky soils of our area, Zinfandel develops wild flavor notes of spicebox and bramble-berry that are immensely attractive for early consumption.  With our region’s cool nights prolonging the ripening period for this grape, we are able to bring in fruit with balanced acidity and ripe, vibrant flavors.  Noted for a hint of rustic character, this wonderful variety is perfectly suited to Whalebone’s casual, country styling.

With an aim to preserve the vitality of fruit-driven flavors and aromatics in this wine, we age our Zinfandel for 18-20 months in mostly American oak, giving this distinctive wine a soft, caramelized note of complexity, and building the resulting wine to a long, round and spicy finish. 

An easy-drinking wine for casual gatherings and simpler fare, Whalebone Zinfandel is the latest addition to our family of fine wines from our special place on the Central Coast.