The Inaugural April 2013 issue of the Los Gatos Magazine featured an article by Laura Nesshttp://www.losgatosmagazine.com/2013/04/10/through-the-grapevine/

THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE

Silvertip Vineyards: Open for Passport Day on Zayante Road.
A newcomer to the region, Silvertip Vineyards, previously known as Nelson Family Vineyard, will be open for Passport day, April 20. The small 7-acre vineyard on Zayante Road produces about 750 cases of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. It has no tasting room, instead offering tastings outside the tiny winery, with ample picnic tables left over from the Christmas tree farm days. The name “Silvertip” comes from a type of Christmas tree the family farmed here for decades.

Philip Nelson and his father, Gerry, who began planting vineyards here in 1998, plan to pour current releases, along with library wines, and perhaps some barrel samples. The still developing 2012 Chardonnays are already extraordinary, and winemaker Paul Stroth is especially excited about the upcoming 2012 Pinot. The 2011 is already bottled—the result of a cooler vintage, Phil and Paul felt it had sufficient oak elevage after just 12 months. This beautifully set vineyard is a little gem you don’t want to miss. Make sure to include it in your list of wineries to explore for Passport. Silvertip is located about a mile down Zayante Road from the intersection of Summit Road. You’ll find it on your left. Look for the sign and the gate.

For the complete article see http://www.losgatosmagazine.com/2013/04/10/through-the-grapevine/

The April 2013 issue of M Magzine featured an article, by Laura Ness, about locally produced Chardonnays. This is what she had to say about the 2011 Silvertip Vineyards Estate Chardonnay:

2011 SILVERTIP VINEYARD ESTATE, SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS, $30

“Lemony creamy aromas greet you with hints of butterscotch but, from the first sip, the soaring acidity encompasses you like a gossamer gown. It’s as airy as a lace curtain with a texture of voile and displays an elegance that carries through its luscious flavors of lemon-almond mousse with a drizzle of butterscotch. Lovely!”

http://www.sopdigitaledition.com/mmagsouth/#/110/”:2011

Ken Zinns reviewed the Silvertip Vineyards 2008 and 2009 Pinot Noir at 2013 Pinot Paradise in GrapeNutz http://www.grape-nutz.com/kenz/13_pparadise.html

2009 Silvertip Vineyards, Estate, 14.6%

Notes: Powerfully built from multiple clones, this chocolate-scented beauty offers something intriguing in every mouth-pleasing sip. An all-around crowd pleaser.

Match: The crispy duck confit cubes from Cin Cin, served with frisee and a cherry gastrique, were spot on with this wine.

http://wineoh.tv/top-10-food-and-wine-pairings-from-pinot-paradise

Richard Jennings – Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-jennings/santa-cruz-mountains-pinot_b_1469916.html

“Two other very good producers weren’t represented at this year’s Pinot Paradise, McHenry and Windy Oaks. Of those that were represented, there were two newcomers that greatly impressed me — Silvertip and Villa del Monte.”

This is what Jennings wrote about Silvertip Vineyards on his blog                                        http://www.rjonwine.com/california-wine/santa-cruz-mountains-pinot-noir/

Silvertip was one of my two “finds” of this tasting–a producer I’d never heard of, that was only established in 2009. The owners are Paul Stroth and Philip Nelson. Stroth has been making Syrah and Zin under the Stroth-Hall label since 2005. I got to taste their wines at the morning technical seminar at this event, and was immediately attracted to their complexity and Asian spice characteristics. The wines are produced from a nine-acre vineyard with sandy soils planted at an elevation of 1700 feet near the top of Santa Cruz Mountains’ western slopes. That vineyard is planted to Pinot, Chardonnay and Syrah. The 2008 was based entirely on clone 828, while the 2009 version included Pommard clone along with Dijon clones 828, 115 and 667. I definitely look forward to following this project.

2008 Silvertip Vineyards Pinot Noir – USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains

Medium dark cherry red color; hoisin, spice box, dried black cherry, Asian 5-spice nose; very appealing, Asian spice, tart black cherry, tart blackberry, lilac palate with medium acidity; medium-plus finish 92+ points (clone 828) (92 pts.)

2009 Silvertip Vineyards Pinot Noir– USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains

Dark ruby color; Asian spice, black cherry, berry nose; tasty, blackberry, black cherry, Asian spice, hoisin sauce palate with lift and near medium acidity; needs 1-2 years; medium-plus finish (clones 828, 115, Pommard and 667; 1/3 new oak) (92 pts.)