Carica Kick Ranch Sauvignon Blanc 2006
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Winemaker Notes
"Vibrant and delicious, with concentrated ripe flavors of peach, apricot, mango, spice and a squirt of fresh lime juice. Intense and focused, with flavors getting an extra push on the finish."
Wine Spectator
90 Points
Professional Ratings
- Wine Spectator
Our winery takes its name from the hardy fig trees (botanical name, Ficus carica) that accent the source of our wine grapes, Kick Ranch vineyard. Carica's fig leaf insignia is inspired by these trees, too. Kick Ranch vineyard is owned and planted by Dick Keenan and Kathy McNamara. Located in Sonoma's Rincon Valley, Kick Ranch is on the western side of the northern flank of Spring Mountain, which separates Sonoma and Napa Counties. The vineyard is sited on an alluvial bench having soil with an amazing mix of volcanic and other rock that contributes a rich minerality to wines. The vineyard is laid out for perfect sun exposure and has a 20 mile vista down to the Petaluma Wind Gap, providing cool nights and foggy mornings, ideal conditions for growing premium wine grapes. Dick's commitment to provide Carica Wines with ultra premium fruit is backed by sustainable farming practices with a focus on healthy, balanced vines, tended by one of Sonoma County's premier vineyard managers. Kick Ranch grapes are now sought after by several other premium wineries.
The saying that great wine is made in a vineyard really only tells half the story. Charlie took his years of private wine making to a new level with Carica Wines. Winemaking’s marriage of art and science comes naturally to Charlie, who originally trained in the biological sciences at UC Davis, and then turned his decades of experience in medical research and biotech laboratory science to enology. Beginning with the 2005 crush on September 23, he has directed every step of Carica's winemaking process.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.