Treasure has no value until it is fought over. I sought out vineyards on the hillsides to create something of value. To pay homage to the precious and the sublime, to create this Côtes du Coast. The soul of this wine is not mine. The roots of this vine are old and deep.
Made from grapes from four prestigious vineyards on the Central Coast.
White Hawk, Bien Nacid, Alta Colina, Melange du Rhone
Fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged on the lees in French oak barrels. Aged for 7 months in French oak barrels (10% new).
Rich flavors of apricot, honeycomb, almond, and the aroma of sourdough bread. The acidity of lime zest brings together the full-bodied flavors.
Saint-Liege (a relationship without master or servant) is a relentless pursuit of one's own independence, and at the same time, it means what distance one should maintain between the traditions of the Rhone Valley and the freedom of the New World. Curt Schalchlin, owner and winemaker of Saint-Liege/Groundwork, explains the meaning of the winery's name. Schalchlin, who encountered winemaking as a business major and became fascinated by it, released his first label in 2003. Schalchlin, who is very attracted to Rhone varieties and specializes in producing wines, is not bound by tradition, but he also does not do anything out of the ordinary. Saint-Liege mainly produces Rhone blends, and Groundwork produces wines using single Rhone varieties.
Shakulin uses grapes from several vineyards on the Central Coast, from Paso Robles to Santa Barbara. He works closely with the vineyards, listening carefully to the messages they convey, and treating them as partners as he works on winemaking for each vintage.
When choosing vineyards, we place importance on the individuality of each vineyard, not on its reputation. Sometimes we choose vineyards that other winemakers have not chosen. When we feel that a vineyard has something special that other vineyards do not have, we choose that vineyard without hesitation. This is the essence of "Saint Lige".
The Central Coast is a very diverse region with various microclimates, different soils and topography. The climate here is similar to the Mediterranean climate and is said to be ideal for Rhone varieties, but Shakulin feels that rather than following the Rhone model, the grapes here have their own unique characteristics and tell a story that is unique to this region. Shakulin's absolute strength is to treat such wonderful vineyards as partners and respect nature. The impressive label, which expresses Shakulin's unique worldview, was created by a German artist living in New York. Shakulin's wines, which are made with his own unique preferences and respect the traditions of the Old World while continuing to challenge himself in the New World, are wonderfully made and suggest great success in the future.