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Tina and Brett
The number of winery acquisitions is on the rise, so when we discover a family-owned brand, we go out of our way to learn more about their offerings and share them with you, our readers.
Owner and winemaker Neil Collins of Lone Madrone, a winery in West Paso Robles, describes his family’s wines as “prestigious, not pretentious”, and we have to say, after trying the family’s Lone Madrone 2022 Points West White, we tend to agree. This Rhone-inspired white blend is made with 61% Roussanne, 18% Vermentino, 14% Grenache Blanc, and 7% Picpoul Blanc, and the palate does a great job of hooking you at the first sip.
In the mid-1980s, Paso Robles was still a young-ish wine region on the rise, and coincidently, so was a young-ish Neil Collins. Neil came to the United States from Britain to join his sister in the hospitality industry. He fell in love with coastal Santa Barbara and a girl who later became his wife, and he put down roots in the region.
While working in restaurants, Neil also fell in love with the wines of California’s Central Coast. In 1996, Neil and his wife Marci decided to try their hand at winemaking. They found a small vineyard in Paso Robles that was planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and decided to pursue wine as a hobby.
Unsure of what their new venture would bring, or if it would bring anything at all, both Neil and Marci kept their day jobs at the restaurant where they worked while they created their first vintage – and for several years after that.
For the first six years, Lone Madrone exclusively produced Cabernet Sauvignon from this vineyard. It wasn’t until a Lone Madrone super-fan approached Neil and offered to help the brand secure a tasting room that things really took off.
It was the stand-alone tasting room that really ignited the following that the winery has today.
The first thing we want to tell you about Winemaker Niel Collins is that he was named the 2020 Wine Industry Person of the Year in Paso Robles by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. This award is voted on by fellow wine industry professionals, winemakers, and winery owners, which gives the accolade extra weight in the community.
We start with this fact to show just how beloved Neil is in the local community. While many wineries choose to tout their recognitions from glossy magazines, it’s the people who those in the wine world work with every day that really understand the impact one of their own has in the community.
Neil prioritizes organic fruit and isn’t afraid to work with varieties that may not be as well known to the average wine drinker. He works under the idea that if you make good wine, no matter what the varietal, wine lovers will find you. In addition to organic grapes, Neil is a champion of dry farming for his vineyards. Denying vines abundant irrigation water forces them to dig further into the soil, and this produces sturdier plants. Some winemakers believe it also creates fruit with more concentrated flavors.
Rather than making big, bold, rich red wines from Paso Robles, he takes a more restrained approach. That style of wine works well with hearty meals but doesn’t always work on evenings when you just want to sit down with a glass that’s more low-key.
In 2022, Neil began transitioning some of the winemaking duties to his son Lucas.
Where white wines are concerned, Lone Madrone also makes a Pet Nat of Chenin Blanc, a single vineyard Chenin from Chen Vineyard, and a dry Riesling. If you gravitate to Paso Robles for the red wine scene, you will be pleased to know that Neil crafts a robust lineup of reds. We look forward to trying the Grenache, Syrah, Zinfandels, Tannat, and Rhone blends featuring Mourvedre, Syrah, Counoise, and Grenache (G-S-M).
USA
California | Paso Robles
61% Roussanne, 18% Vermentino, 14% Grenache Blanc, 7% Picpoul Blanc
13
Neil Collins
49–55°F / 9–12°C
Chardonnay
1 Hour
Now to 2030
Lone Madrone
The 2022 Points West White from Lone Madrone is a pale lemon color in the glass, and the nose begins casting its spell on the very first swirl. There’s a good amount of intensity here. Notes of crunchy apple, fleshy peach, lemon-lime citrus, and clean minerality.
Our first impression of this palate is that this is an incredibly food-friendly wine. The highly acidic qualities in the Vermentino and Picpoul Blanc grapes ensure that this wine is beautifully balanced, and the lushness of the Roussanne does not overwhelm the palate. The palate exhibits similar characteristics as the nose, with a zippy streak of lemon-lime, decadent ripples of peach and butterscotch, but also crisp apple and pear.
The finish is balanced and invites further sipping.
If you’re not already a believer in the ability of Paso Robles to create intriguing and distinctive wines that rival that of the Rhone Valley, this bottle from winemaker Neil Collins will get you over the line. The Points West White has richness and balance all in one glass.
