During the growing season, cool and damp Pacific Ocean air penetrates the gorge and flows into the valley, creating a cool evening respite for vineyards after a hot summer day. Named after the dramatic, seasonal river of rain and snowmelt that cuts through the upper elevations of the Santa Lucia Mountains, the Arroyo Seco AVA extends east from the resultant mountain gorge, and into the rural and warm Salinas Valley. He utilizes this approach to create wines of varietal purity and elegance while focusing on the local grapes of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Russell is classic and minimal in his approach to winemaking. Russel now showcases the area’s premier AVA’s such as the Santa Lucia Highlands, Carmel Valley, and Arroyo Seco. Francis’ son, Russel, grew up running between those wines. It began when Francis Joyce followed his passion by pirating several European cuttings in the early 1980’s to a small vineyard in the Carmel Valley. Most American fathers and sons play baseball in the front yard… others make wine together. In an effort to further guide their wines to their best potential, Joyce also uses neutral fermentation and aging vessels to limit its influence on the fruit. During fermentation, decisions on yeast sourcing, sulfur usage and filtration are made as needed aiming for typicity and honesty. Harvest at moderate ripeness from their own 6 acre estate along with partnership from trusted local farmers allows the winery to control the quality of the fruit before production. The deep, cold waters of Monterey Bay keep the nights cool making the growing season long enough to ripen fruit at a proper pace while maintaining finesse and structure. Vineyards benefit from a unique climate during the growing season that further showcase fresh, clean and mineral driven wines with a sense of place. Minimal cellar intervention, on-site production and bottling frame the goals of Joyce to showcase the impact of climate and soil on local varietals. Joyce Wine Company is a result of the family’s interest in Monterey County’s diverse terroirs.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |