Our Wines
Rod and Jan’s Winemaking Notes, Ratings and Recognition
Keeling-Schaefer wines comes from fruit grown on our own estate vineyards. We farm 21 acres of mostly ENTAV certified French grapevines on our Home Place Vineyard and our Rock Creek Vineyard. One thing that sets us apart from many wineries is we grow our own fruit and make all of the wine in the winery located on the vineyard. It is a terrific advantage to control all aspects of winemaking, including all of the growing decisions.
In 2004, Herrick Grapevines, of St. Helena, California, supplied us with 7200 ENTAV dormant benchgrafts for our April 2004 planting. These plants are Syrah clones; 174, 383 and 877; and Grenache Noir clones, 513 and 362. In 2007-2009, along with our friends and partners, Roger and Judy Egan, we planted an additional 10,300 vines, on 12 acres of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Viognier and Picpoul Blanc on our Rock Creek Vineyard.
Our wines are now available at the Willcox Tasting Room or by phone. Several of our wines are sold in over 180 retailers and restaurants in Arizona. We accept Mastercard and Visa. Call 520.824.2500.
Wine Spectator Ratings for Keeling Schaefer Wines
KEELING SCHAEFER Syrah Cochise County Three Sisters 2007
89
Quite ripe, with boysenberry, fig paste and currant confiture notes woven with licorice snap and espresso notes. Stays nice and creamy through the smoke-tinged finish. Almost heady in the end, but pulls it off. Drink now. 971 cases made. – JM
Country: Other US Region: Arizona Issue: Web Only – 2010
KEELING SCHAEFER Viognier Cochise County Best Friends 2009
89
Ripe and broad, but with good cut, as star anise, dried pineapple and white peach flavors fill out through the juicy finish. Very tasty. Drink now. 55 cases made. – JM
Country: Other US Region: Arizona Issue: Dec 31, 2010
KEELING SCHAEFER Syrah Cochise County Three Sisters 2009
89
This has a heady ripeness, with dark blackberry compote, plum sauce and blueberry preserves notes, but there’s a lacing of mesquite and singed vanilla that lends texture and length on the finish, keeping this honest. Drink now. 539 cases made. – JM
Country: Other US Region: Arizona Issue: Web Only – 2012
KEELING SCHAEFER Partners Cochise County 2007
88
Ripe, fleshy and smoky, with mulled fig, plum sauce and spice bread notes liberally laced with black tea and roasted vanilla bean. A touch shy on focus in the end, but with good range. Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Drink now. 264 cases made. – JM
Country: Other US Region: Arizona Issue: Dec 31, 2010
KEELING SCHAEFER Shiraz Cochise County Keeling Brothers 2009
88
Quite ripe and a touch heady, with raisin, dark plum, prune and cocoa notes framed by mocha and spice. Plush in feel, but perhaps a touch extreme in style for some tastes. Drink now. 42 cases made. – JM
Country: Other US Region: Arizona Issue: Web Only – 2012
KEELING SCHAEFER Syrah Cochise County Three Sisters 2010
87
This has heft, with baker’s chocolate, plum, prune and ample roasted wood notes, but there’s good flesh and polish, with enough definition on the finish for balance. Drink now. 431 cases made. – JM
Country: Other US Region: Arizona Issue: Web Only – 2012
KEELING SCHAEFER Syrah Cochise County Home Place Reserve 2007
87
This sports fig, prune and plum notes along with fruitcake and toasted raisin notes. Plush and mouthfilling, but a touch shy on freshness and purity. Drink now. 96 cases made. – JM
Country: Other US Region: Arizona Issue: Web Only – 2012
KEELING SCHAEFER Shiraz Cochise County Keeling Brothers 2007
87
This is dark and toasty, with raisin, roasted plum and fig jam flavors liberally coated with a roasted vanilla note. Drink now. 72 cases made. – JM
Country: Other US Region: Arizona Issue: Dec 31, 2010
KEELING SCHAEFER Shiraz Cochise County Keeling Brothers 2010
86
Rather overt style, with thickly layered plum, prune and blackberry jam notes, liberally framed with roasted spice and toast. A touch heady in the end, but may have some fans. Drink now. 44 cases made. – JM
Country: Other US Region: Arizona Issue: Web Only – 2012
KEELING SCHAEFER Syrah Cochise County Home Place Reserve 2006
86
Mature, with soft raisin, cinnamon, baked plum and licorice notes held together by a toasty frame. Drink now. 72 cases made. – JM
Country: Other US Region: Arizona Issue: Web Only – 2010
KEELING SCHAEFER Chardonnay Cochise County Best Friends 2008
86
Juicy and fresh, showing open-knit apple, pear and peach notes liberally laced with a buttery note. Drink now. 76 cases made. – JM
Country: Other US Region: Arizona Issue: Web Only – 2010
KEELING SCHAEFER Grenache Cochise County Two Reds 2007
86
Lively, with raspberry and mulled cherry fruit flavors laced with spice and incense notes. A touch jammy on the finish, but stays supple enough. Drink now. 631 cases made. – JM
Country: Other US Region: Arizona Issue: Web Only – 2009
KEELING SCHAEFER Turkey Creek Caldera Cochise County 2007
85
A late-harvest style, offering ripe blueberry, chocolate-covered blackberry and raisin toast notes, with the raisined edge lingering on the lightly firm finish. Syrah. Drink now. 101 cases made. – JM
Country: Other US Region: Arizona Issue: Web Only – 2010
KEELING SCHAEFER Partners Cochise County 2010
84
Ripe and friendly, with a mix of blueberry and raisin notes laced with a pain d’épices note, but turning a touch airy in the end. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Petite Syrah. Drink now. 485 cases made. – JM
Country: Other US Region: Arizona Issue: Web Only – 2012
KEELING SCHAEFER Partners Cochise County 2008
84
A dark, fleshy style, with a Port edge to the raisin, blueberry cobbler and warm fig notes. The toast- and cinnamon-filled finish is broad. This is a touch top-heavy in the end, but may have some fans. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Petit Sirah. Drink now. 195 cases made. – JM
Country: Other US Region: Arizona Issue: Web Only – 2011
New Releases – October 2013
Winemaker’s Technical Notes
2012 Three Sisters Syrah
Tasting Room Retail- $22.00
This is 8th harvest and bottling of Three Sisters Syrah sourced from our Home Place and Rock Creek Vineyards.
Planted in 2004 and 2007, our flagship wine is harvested from vines that come from French, ENTAV certified, clones, selected and developed in California by Herrick Grapevines, in Napa County and one Davis 2 clone at the Rock Creek Vineyard that was supplied by Lake County Nursery. Syrah is one of the worlds leading grape varieties and production in the Northern Rhone Valley of France and in South Australia have produced wines that are considered some of the best wines ever made.
Now having been grown in Arizona for over a decade, it has gained popularity and is what we believe at Keeling Schaefer to be the “star” red wine of Arizona.
We knew when our first rated vintage in 2007 received an 89 from Wine Spectator that we were on to something special. Of all the various Syrahs we have produced, 9 have been rated 86+ by Wine Spectator. The Syrah grown at our Home Place and Rock Creek Vineyards has found a home in the foothills of the Chiricahua Mountains
Bold, round-in-the-mouth, structured tannins, inky color and full of blackberry, fig and plum fruit with mocha and licorice notes.
Sales Points: Authentic-Grown, made and bottled by Rod Keeling and Jan Schaefer. 100% Arizona Grown estate fruit. History of Prior Vintages- Five, highly rated and successful vintages. Arguably, the best selling, most consistent, 100% varietal Arizona wine ever produced.
-Rod Keeling
Estate grown and bottled.
Harvest Dates: September 18-28 , 2012.
Bottling Date: July 30, 2013. 100% Syrah
Alcohol: 15.8% Ph: 3.86
Treatment: De-stemed and allowed to cold-soak on the skins for 4 days. Inoculated with ICV 254D yeast and fermented at a peak of 82f. Pressed after 12 days and allowed full malolactic/secondary fermentation in barrel. No enzymes. Not cold stabilized, tartaric crystals may be present. Filtered with paper media. Drink now through 2020, 865 cases.
Winemaker’s Technical Notes
2012 Partners Rhone Blend
Tasting Room Retail- $20.00
This is 4th bottling of our Partners Rhone Blend sourced from our Home Place and Rock Creek Vineyards.
Planted in 2004 and 2007, this classic New World GSM is harvested from vines that come from French, ENTAV certified Grenache and Mourvedre clones, selected and developed in California by Herrick Grapevines, in Napa County and one Davis 2 Syrah clone at the Rock Creek Vineyard that was supplied by Lake County Nursery. Grenache based Rhone styled blends that include Syrah and Mourvedre have been increasingly popular and is one of the worlds leading wine blends. Originally developed in the Sorthern Rhone Valley of France the classic GSM blend has produced wines that are considered some of the best wines ever made.
We knew when our first rated vintage of Partners in 2007 received an 88 from Wine Spectator that we were on to something special with this blend. The 2012 Partners has returned to it’s 2007 roots, eliminating the addition of Petite Sirah that was added to the 2008 and 2010 vintages.
Ripe, fleshy, inky dark, full bodied with focused structure, good range and tannins, a classic New World GSM.
Sales Points: Authentic-Grown made and bottled by Rod Keeling and Jan Schaefer, 100% Arizona Grown estate fruit. Value Priced, Record of Quality. Great Sales Record.
-Rod Keeling
Estate grown and bottled.
Harvest Dates: Various dates in late September and early October, 2012.
Bottling Date: July 3, 2013. 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre
Alcohol: 15.1% Ph: 3.78
Treatment: De-stemed and allowed to cold-soak on the skins for 4 days. Inoculated with ICV 254D (Syrah), VRB (Mourvedre) and GRE (Grenache) yeasts and fermented at relatively low temperatures with a peak of 82f. Pressed after 8-12 days and allowed full malolactic/secondary fermentation in barrel. No enzymes. Not cold stabilized, tartaric crystals may be present. Filtered with paper media. Drink now through 2018, 483 cases.
Winemaker’s Technical Notes
2012 Farmers Mourvedre
Tasting Room Retail- $18.00
This is the 2nd bottling of our Farmers Mourvedre sourced from our Rock Creek Vineyard.
Planted in 2007, this popular, full bodied earthy Rhone is harvested from vines that come from French, ENTAV certified Mourvedre clone 233. Selected, grafted and developed in California by Herrick Grapevines, in St Helena, Napa County. Mourvedre is one of the “big three” Rhone reds, along with Grenache and Syrah.
Widely planted in Spain where it’s known as Monastrell, South Australia where it is called Mataro, and in the South of France. Great Rhone styled blends typically use Mourvedre as the tannin backbone and are considered some of the finest wines in the world.
Our first harvest of Mourvedre in 2008 proved out to make a spectacular wine, our 2008 Schaefer Boys Mourvedre. The Farmers blend came from the 2009 vintage that was blended with Greenish and Syrah.
The 2012 Farmers is now labeled as a varietal Mourvedre.
Large, earthy, almost black, full mouthfeel with structured tannins and texture.
Sales Points: Authentic-Grown made and bottled by Rod Keeling and Jan Schaefer, 100% Arizona Grown estate fruit. Unique-Rare if not first widely distributed Arizona grown varietal labeled Mourvedre blend. Value Priced, Food Friendly
-Rod Keeling
Estate grown and bottled.
Harvest Date: October 12, 2012.
Bottling Date: June 27, 2013. 92% Mourvedre, 8% Syrah
Alcohol: 15.2% Ph: 3.78
Treatment: De-stemed and allowed to cold-soak on the skins for 4 days in open harvest bins. Inoculated with ICV VRB yeast and fermented at relatively low temperatures with a peak of 76f. Punched down only once a day to minimize tannin extraction. Pressed after 6 days and allowed full malolactic/secondary fermentation in barrel. No enzymes. Not cold stabilized, tartaric crystals may be present. Filtered with paper media. Drink now through 2020, 245 cases.
Winemaker’s Technical Notes
2012 Two Reds Grenache
Tasting Room Retail- $18.00
This is the 5th bottling of our Two Reds Grenache sourced from our Home Place and Rock Creek Vineyards.
Planted in 2004 and 2007, this popular, light bodied Rhone is harvested from vines that come from French, ENTAV certified Grenache clones 362, 513 and 515. Selected, grafted and developed in California by Herrick Grapevines, in St Helena, Napa County.
Grenache is the most widely grown wine grape varietal in the world, with extensive plantings in Spain where it’s known as Garnacha, and in the South of France. Great Rhone styled blends typically use Grenache as the backbone and are considered some of the finest wines in the world.
We knew when our first rated vintage of Two Reds in 2007 received an 86 from Wine Spectator that we were on to something special with Grenache grown in the Chiricahua foothills. The 2012 Two Reds has returned to it’s 2007 roots, capturing a lively, fresh and balanced character.
Lively, light bodied, ruby crimson, smooth yet still with structure, balance and a long spicy finish.
Sales Points: Authentic-Grown made and bottled by Rod Keeling and Jan Schaefer, 100% Arizona Grown estate fruit. Unique-Rare if not first widely distributed Arizona grown Varietal labeled Grenache, since 2005. Value Priced, Continuity-four successful prior vintages, rated 86 by Wine Spectator, with great sales record.
-Rod Keeling
Estate grown and bottled.
Harvest Dates: Various dates in late September and early October, 2012.
Bottling Date: June 16, 2013. 94% Grenache, 6% Syrah Alcohol: 14.6% Ph: 3.68
Treatment: De-stemed and allowed to cold-soak on the skins for 2 days. Inoculated with ICV GRE yeast and fermented at relatively low temperatures with a peak of 78f. Pressed after 8-12 days and allowed full malolactic/secondary fermentation in barrel. No enzymes. Not cold stabilized, tartaric crystals may be present. Filtered with paper media. Drink now through 2018, 435 cases.
For a list of retail locations where Keeling Schaefer wines are currently available see our list on our purchase page.
For more information call us at 520.824.2500
or Rod’s cell at 520.507.2301