View - Clos de la Tech

Santa Cruz Mountains, California
Clos de la Tech Essentials
Overview
With caves tunneling deep into a vine-covered ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains and vineyards so steep they have to
be farmed with a one-of-a-kind, specially designed tractor moved by cables, Clos de la Tech is one of the most
ambitious and innovative Pinot Noir producers in California. The winery was founded in 1994 and continues to be
operated by TJ Rodgers, CEO of Cypress Semiconductor, and his wife, Valeta. Some of the highlights at Clos de la Tech
include extreme growing conditions, high-altitude terrain, vine-by-vine farming, high-density planting (4,150 vines
per acre), low yields (below one ton per acre), innovative equipment, gravity-flow winery, whole cluster
fermentations and no filtration.
Wines
Domaine Lois Louise Estate (Santa Cruz Mountain Estates)
Domaine Lois Louise Cote Sud
Domaine Lois Louise Twisty Ridge
Domaine Valeta Sunny Slope
Domaine Docteur Rodgers
Highlights
• First Vintage: 1996
• Annual Production: 2,000 cases growing to 10,000 cases as new plantings mature
• Clos de la Tech produces five Pinot Noirs from three estate vineyards:
• Extreme terrain (high elevation, steep, exposed, austere soils)
• Incredibly low yields (less than two tons per acre)
• High-density planting (4,150 vines per acre)
• Three gravity-flow, step-down caves for crushing, fermentation and aging
• Hand harvested; foot crushed grapes; whole cluster fermentations
• No pumps, no filters; one-of-a-kind, TJ Rodgers-designed tractor and press
• 100% Francois Freres oak; Bottled unfiltered
Three Estate Vineyards
Domaine du Docteur Rodgers - 1 acre, hand-farmed site in Woodside
Domaine Valeta - 3.5 acres, 2,350 feet above sea level in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
Domaine Lois Louise - an extraordinarily steep, ocean-exposed, 163-acre property in the SCM AVA
Recent Scores
2009 Domaine Lois Louise Estate 93 Points Tasting Panel
2009 Domaine Lois Louise Estate 92 Points Wine Enthusiast
2009 Domaine Lois Louise Estate 94 Points Sommelier Challenge
2009 Domaine Lois Louise Estate 93 points James Melendez
2009 Domaine Lois Louise Estate "Top 10 Wines of 2014" Forbes
2009 Domaine Lois Louise Cote Sud 93 Points Tasting Panel
2009 Domaine Lois Louise Cote Sud 91 Points Wine Enthusiast
2009 Domaine Lois Louise Cote Sud 91 Points Sommelier Chal.
2009 Domaine du Docteur Rodgers 96 Points The Tasting Panel
2009 Domaine Docteur Rodgers 93 Points Wine Enthusiast
2009 Domaine du Docteur Rodgers - 94 Points Prince of Pinot
2009 Domaine Lois Louise Twisty Ridge 93 Points Tasting Panel
2009 Domaine Lois Louise Twisty Ridge 93 Points Wine Enthusiast
2009 Domaine Lois Louise Twisty Ridge 93 Points Prince of Pinot
2009 Domaine Lois Louise Twisty Ridge 91 Points Critics Challenge
2009 Domaine Valeta Sunny Slope 95 Points Tasting Panel
2009 Domaine Valeta Sunny Slope 90 Points Wine Enthusiast
2009 Domaine Valeta Sunny Slope 94 Points Prince of Pinot
2010 Santa Cruz Mountains Estates 93 Points Wine Enthusiast
2010 Domaine Lois Louise Cote Sud 92 Points) Critics Challenge
2010 Santa Cruz Mountains Estates 93 Points) Critics Challenge