The WineTh "11" series is Andrew's homage to his love of music. In fact, the design of the label was inspired by an old Led Zeppelin concert ticket he'd saved. And the "11" is a wink and a nod to the scene from the film "This is Spinal Tap" in which a band member explains why their amps are better because they go up to 11, while everyone else is stuck with amps the merely go to ten.
Andrew will say these wines go to 11 because they come from 25-45 year-old estate fruit, are double-sorted prior to crushing / fermenting, and at every step in the process of decisions are made based on the idea the label is complete in and of itself, not merely second label for Andrew's eponymous brand. The wine is pricier than many Sauvignon Blancs, but it is an affordable splurge that is well worth it.
The Winery
Today he's fully into the middle of his winemaking career, but Andrew Murray was heralded as a wunderkind when I first became aware of his wines in 2002. At the time, his fame was largely limited to the Central Coast and a handful of avid wine devotees outside the area. They had the foresight to know these wines were something special.
Then came the day his Syrah was shown and mentioned by the characters Maya snd Miles in the movie "Sideways". That product placement jettisoned his brand more than anyone could imagine.
Ever since I licensed the Sideways brand for a wine club in 2005, I've carried more of Andrew's wines than any other Central Coast producer.
