Dear Futures Buyers,

Thank you for buying futures-everything is ready to be picked up or was already shipped, except the 2007 Malbec and 2007 Nebbiolo-which will be bottled this February or March 2009. This packet is usually included with your futures delivery-sorry for the delay. I have decided to age some of the wines a bit longer than in the past-some benefiting from barrel aging over bottle aging. In addition to acquiring more vanilla and oak tannins, they also integrate better, resulting in better structure and with a longer, smoother finish. For me, the balance of the components is the primary goal-where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Thus, even though I've employed more oak than previously, the oak does not dominate the other elements like: fruit, acid and tannins. As a consequence the wines from the 06 and 07 vintages tend to be approachable earlier, while also having good aging potential.

As for the 2008 growing season-- it was nearly ideal apart from the late frost in April. Many growers including me experienced a significant reduction in crop size, which has engendered lament and discussion over the trials of the 2008 Harvest. Although my crop was 50% less than previous years, the resulting quality is superior. In some instances the quality of the crop is inversely proportional to quantity-generally speaking, the smaller the crop, the greater the concentration of flavors in the berries. As we know, nature is a mixed bag of positives and negatives; behind the obvious negative phenomena one can find something positive lurking at the back. Most of the wines I made in 2008 are showing high concentration in flavor and varietal character. Every couple of years I try my hand with a few new varietals, new to me, that is. This year I tried Mourvedre, a Rhone that's rumored to have originated in Spain. Plus I've experimented with Tempranillo-a Spanish grape. I believe this expands my field of experience and promotes creativity-besides, it’s more fun this way.

The prognosis for this new offspring is promising: remarkably varietal and terroir expressive-it will be pleasurable to watch their development in stages…a bottle now to celebrate the inauguration… a few during the winter to stay warm and another in early spring, one in summer and some to lay down for a longer sleep.

I have included Tasting Notes for the wines you purchased as futures in 2008 along with a preview of the new futures for 2009 and an invitation to get in on them early with an added 5% incentive if ordered before February 28, 2009. Keep in mind, some won’t be offered as part of the regular futures program. As a futures buyer, you’re invited to bypass the waiting list for our wine club, which allows for deeper discounts on futures, pre-releases, exclusive barrel tasting and winemaker’s dinners, as well as, allocations of reserve wines.

Sincerely,

Frane Franicevic/Winemaker/Owner
Sunce Winery and Vineyard
1839 Olivet Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
707-526-9463

2008 Futures Tasting Notes

Pinot Noir

This release marks Janae and Frane Franicevic's fourth unveiling of their estate planted and grown Pinot Noir - it's by far the richest and the fullest on the palate. There's more earth and and candied red fruit than the 2006 vintage. The finish is elongated, with toasted silk and subtle creamy truffles. This is the vineyard's 7th leaf-and it has achieved its total fruition-this vintage marks the beginning of more great vintages to come. Only 22 barrels made-550 cases.

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Zinfandel

The late harvest provided ample hang-time without any shriveling, increasing its concentrated black fruit and white pepper qualities. Open a few now and let breathe for winter dinners. Open the rest beginning Winter 2009. Only 14 barrels made-350 cases. Nearly 150 cases were pre-sold thru futures.


Big Zin lovers rejoice... this one's for you! Laden with juicy ripe plums and laced with mixed peppercorns, this puppy will please your urge just to sip, sip alone, sip together on the porch, sip while watching the news. Wait to open until Winter/Spring 2009. Only 17 barrels made-425 cases. SOLD OUT THROUGH FUTURES!

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Cal Itals

A very classic Italian-style wine, yielding espresso bean character intermingled with spiced cranberries; richly textured with alfalfa, clean acidity and a long, rich aftertaste. Only 7 barrels made- 175 cases. Open one now and let it breathe, open the rest beginning Spring 2009. SOLD OUT THROUGH FUTURES!


Very cranberry and lots of alfalfa notes--classique SOLD OUT THROUGH FUTURES!!!


100% Barbera. It'll remind you of the 04 and 06 vintages... ripe, big, fuzzy on the tongue but good clean acid makes it the best food wine-if all else fails and you don't know what to pair with your stew, roast, crock-pot wonder, pork chops, barbecue chicken, pizza, osso bucco or any strong flavored, tomato based dish, just take out your trusty Sunce Barbera and you'll be in culinary ecstasy. Better than ever... Frane's growing understanding of this fun grape is evident in this, his 5th Barbera. Bing cherry and raspberry fruit surrounded by a silky mouth-feel layered by hints of cardamom spice and vanilla. Open a few now and let breathe, open the rest beginning March 09 while cozying up next to a fire. Only 14 Barrels made-344 cases. Only 70 cases left for the tasting room after futures sold---the biggest futures seller of all time—of any varietal or release of anything!

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Super Tuscan

This, the 5th Trois Amis from Sunce, is the most balanced, most refined, with the most integrated tannin of the bunch. Not as bone dry as earlier vintages—more of a juiciness!! Only the best rows of each varietal block are chosen to achieve the perfect blend of fruit, spice, and deep toast. Merlot delivers a supple texture with minty tea aromas while Sangiovese brings forward a medley of spiced dried fruits, and a fury, long finish and Cab quietly chimes in with dusty cocoa-laced blackberries,. 44% Merlot, 44% Sangiovese and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon,... A KEEPER!!!!!! Open one now and let it breathe, open the rest beginning Summer 2009. Only 14 Barrels Made-350 cases Frane says: "you can really taste the Sangio in this one, my favorite to date"

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Lone Rhone

Frane put Bob and Cris’s little lot into four special French oak barrels—he says it deserves it!! This meticulously farmed 1 acre Syrah block yields rich round flavors of black plum, white pepper, dark chocolate and smoked meat. Begin opening in early Spring 2009. Only 8 Barrels Made-200 cases


Blueberries abound in this traditional interpretation of a warmer weather-style Rhone. Lush and juicy comes to mind, too.

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Durif

Text book grapiness and new wine, new car nose. Inky black purplish. Varietally Correct!!

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Bordeaux Tasting Notes

100% Merlot This vintage is the last Hurrah from Hedin’s historic vineyard—as it was ripped out to plant Pinot Noir to satisfy another elitist spun craze. Here again, Frane' remains committed to the artisan side of Merlot craftsmanship and he allows this one its due time in brand new French oak barrels. Fragrant mint and black tea pervade the nose leading into wet white truffles laden with mixed berries and a weighty mid-palate laced with pepper. Start sipping now for the heck of it, but open the rest beginning Spring 09. Only 4 barrels made-100 cases THIS COLLECTOR’S WINE WAS SOLD OUT THROUGH FUTURES


This very true to varietal Franc is richer, but a tad more earthy than the 06 vintage, expressing black fig interspersed with blackberries, laced with a medley of sweet peppers and Mayan chocolate spices. A Definite must for post holiday entertaining. Don't feel guilty about opening a few now... but let 'em breathe. Only 16 Barrels Made-400 cases.


Winemaker's Reserve 42% Hedin Merlot, 36% Hedin Cab Sauv, 22% Mazzera Cab This release is more Bordeaux-style than previous vintages. Frane feels it's the best vintage for Bordeaux in California since 1997. It's the wine that deserves to be laid down but is hard to resist right now. 70% of the vintage sold before it was bottled. Nearly Sold Out through futures!


Cot or Auxerrois. Sunce's third voyage with this varietal is the fullest, blackest, thickest, like oil, exuding a typical Malbec nose of fruitcake and anise with some fresh barnyard mixed in. In the mouth this potent inky wine shows balanced fruit from start to finish, with rich black cherries & moist earth. Only 16 Barrels Made-400 cases.


The final offspring from this Westside Road hillside vineyard—spindly new Pinot vines now stand in its place. SOLD OUT THROUGH FUTURES

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Nebbiolo

100% Nebbiolo. Lampia clone. Made in authentic Barolo-style and pressed on Barbera skins. This early budding, early flowering, late ripening thin-skinned grape made it out of the vineyard unscathed, which is a triumph since it's harder to grow than even Pinot Noir. There was no offspring in the 2008 harvest with its frost woes. For you hard to please folks, who've been to Cab, to Pinot and just need something a little more... this is for you. It touches places on the palate that have never been touched-statistically speaking, if it ever makes it out of the growing season, it has the perfect ph, acid, tannin balance. This one has the signature violets on the nose but also has an exotic Lychee nut character with a hint of cedar plank. Oh the finesse, the everlasting finish. Only 15 Barrels Made-375 cases.

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Dessert

Left on the vine and almost forgotten by everyone except Finlay, the dog who chomped on these partial raisins. A good use of merlot!!! After it was pressed it was fortified with pure distilled (168 proof) from vinifera through reverse osmosis Wine Secrets. The future sales of this dessert wine were through the roof and when people got them home they readily sucked ‘em down and ordered more.