Winemaker Notes
This is the fourth vintage of Riesling Cobb has released from Cole Ranch. This monopole is both a vineyard and an appellation as it is isolated on Hwy 253 between the towns of Boonville and Ukiah. With no vineyards in any direction for miles, Cole Ranch has a truly unique microclimate. It sits at an elevation of 1200+ feet, making it one of the few high-altitude Riesling sites in California.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
From an isolated and very high elevation site in Mendocino County, Cole Ranch is the only vineyard for miles. Botrytis makes this Riesling rounded and rich. It is fermented completely dry and then aged in older white barrels, giving it ample mouthfeel. Lime leaf, crushed slate, grilled lemon peel, smoky and flint, apricot, candied lemon drops.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Riesling Cole Ranch Vineyard comes from vines planted at 1,200 feet above sea level in Mendocino County. It has alluring aromas of lime candy, white peach and lemongrass with undertones of honey and exotic spice. The light-bodied palate is bone dry with pure, concentrated flavors enlivened by tangy acidity, and it has a long, spicy finish.
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Vinous
The 2022 Riesling Cole Ranch is a gorgeous, expansive wine. Deceptively medium in body, the 2022 is wonderfully lifted and exotic. A hint of botrytis adds tons of flair. Apricot, peach, jasmine, spice and mint give this effusive, layered Riesling tons of character.
Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
A large and diverse appellation within California’s North Coast AVA, Mendocino is home to several smaller sub-regions—most notably the Anderson Valley. This scenic region, with rolling hills covered in redwood forests as well as vineyards, is one of the world’s top producers of certified organically-grown grapes. Due to wide geographical and climatic variation, a vast array of wine styles can be found here.