Linne Calodo

This year (2023) marks the 25th birthday for one of Paso Robles most important wineries, Linne Calodo. It was founded by two bona-fide legends, Justin Smith (who went on to start Saxum Vineyards) and Matt Trevisan. To this day, Matt continues to push boundaries in Paso and played a massive role in putting the regions Grenache-blends in the international spotlight.

  • Region: Paso Robles
  • Winery Location: Willow Creek
  • Owner: Matt & Maureen Trevisan
  • First Vintage: 1998
  • Winemaker: Matt Trevisan

Story

In 1998, Matt and his college roommate, Justin Smith, started off picking fruit for Linne Calodo from the Smith Family’s James Berry Vineyard, and Elmer and Mary Cherry’s Vineyard, using the Wild Horse Winery facility (where they were both working) after hours. In 2001, Justin moved on to start Saxum, and Matt knew it was time to begin focus purely on Linne Calodo, and in 2002 the first winery and tasting room was completed.

In 2008, they broke ground on a brand-new winery and tasting room in the centre of their new Linne Calodo Estate, while continuing to pant the property to Rhône varietals. The empire was expanded in 2009 when they leased a 6-hectare neighbouring vineyard, followed in 2012 with the purchase of 20 hectares just a couple of miles away, now their Trevi Ranch Vineyard.

Volumes are extremely low, but all of the reds and whites are sold out in their entirety every year, such is the demand.

Vineyards

Planted in 2005, the Estate Vineyard surrounding the winery sits around 320 metres above sea level, where the cold air and coastal fog tends to settle. This results in cooler temperatures and much longer maturation on the vine, which produce wines with higher acids and a unique flavour profile.

The Trevi Ranch Vineyard is slightly higher at over 400 metres of elevation, and experiences slightly warmer temperatures and less fog. Will hillsides approaching 45 degree slopes, and orientation to all corners of the compass, the different blocks produce a vast array of flavour profiles.

Winemaking

Matt’s winemaking style is a balance of science and art, not shy of experimentation and altering his approach to work with each vintage. It’s also one that leading him to the very top of his game and comparisons to the greats of the Rhône Valley, with Josh Reynolds (Vinous) likening him to Jean-Louis Chave!

Latest arrivals from Linne Calodo

2020 Slacker Wines, Computer Geek, Paso Robles 12x75cl

Blend: 40% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Graciano, 10% Carignan Vintage production: 260 cases The 2020 Computer Geek comes from three estate vineyards farmed by winemaker Matt Trevisan in the Willow... Creek District. The driving element is Syrah from the Perch Block at Stonethrower Vineyard, located just 10 miles from the ocean at an elevation of 1,350 feet. The Syrah component is rounded out by fruit from the Estrella Block at Stonethrower Vineyard and the Cold Shoulder Block at the Linne Calodo estate. The Grenache, Graciano and Carignan hail from a mix of blocks at Stonethrower, Linne Calodo and Oakdale vineyards.
£410 / Case£34.17 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £539.66 / Case, £44.97 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days

2020 Linne Calodo, Cherry Red, Central Coast 1x75cl

RP95VM95+
Blend 68% Zinfandel, 18% Syrah, 12% Mourvedre, 2% Tempranillo Vintage production: 436 cases Cherry Vineyard spans 2.5 acres on slopes reaching up to 40 degrees in the Willow Creek District. The... goblet-style vines are nearly 50 years old and yield just a half-ton per acre. Every trick in the book is employed to hand-pick these grapes and wheel them out safely. Nothing is easy here, and that is the point. The fruit makes it all worth it with its cherry-forward flavors, bright acidity and dry-farmed character: a fitting homage to the heritage variety of Paso Robles. Into this mix we add Syrah, Mourvèdre and Tempranillo from the Linne Calodo estate, accentuating and drawing out the best in the Cherry Vineyard Zinfandel.
£80 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £99.97 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days

2020 Linne Calodo, Rising Tides, Paso Robles 1x75cl

RP95VM94
Blend 69% Grenache, 31% Syrah Vintage production: 600 cases The 2020 Rising Tides comes from a kaleidoscope of micro-blocks at the Linne Calodo Estate and Stonethrower Vineyard, including 13 total... blocks of Grenache alone. Each block contributes different nuances of clone, aspect and soil composition. The main estate is planted to calcareous Linne Calodo and Linne Zakme soils, as well as Cropley clay loam along the lower blocks. Stonethrower is distinguished by its rocky mudstone soils and multifaceted exposures. Together, these sites provide an array of expressions that interconnect and augment each other into a seamless whole.
£80 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £100.02 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days

2017 Linne Calodo, Sticks and Stones, Paso Robles 1x75cl

JD96
Blend: 71% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 7% Mourvèdre Vintage production: 900 cases In the words of winemaker, Matt Trevisan: “Sticks and Stones is our ballad to Grenache, and to our mindset as a blending... house. It’s the idea of taking the bright flavors and luscious acidity of our best Grenache barrels, then lengthening them out with complements of Syrah and Mourvèdre. It blurs the dividing line between a varietal wine and a showcase blend—essentially a Grenache done the Linne Calodo way."
£71 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £89.24 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days