Winemaker Notes
Cole Ranch is an anomaly as it is both a vineyard, and the smallest appellation in America. Originally planted by John Cole back in the 1970s the vineyard now has Cabernet, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Riesling. Mike Lucia recently purchased the 150-acre property and plans to add alpine-inspired varietals such as Gamay, Trousseau, Savagnin and Poulsard in
the future. The property sits on a bench of land in the middle of Hwy 253, totally isolated from any vineyards in Ukiah or Anderson Valley. The resulting wine is both true to the grape variety but holds a core of minerality and a mouthfeel that is reminiscent of Chablis.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2024 Riesling Cole Ranch is a total delight. Green apple, mint, jasmine, Jolly Rancher and citrus confit are all beautifully lifted in the glass. Wonderfully transparent and expressive, the Cole Ranch is sublime. This is such a distinctive wine.
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James Suckling
Grilled lemons, sea spray, nuts, spring flowers and baking spices. The palate has a lovely texture and pithiness with bright acidity, slight phenolic grip and a gently saline finish. Delightful. Drink or hold.
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Wine Spectator
Savory beeswax and lanolin set the stage for plump flavors of ruby grapefruit, Honeycrisp apple and kumquat. Complex and distinctive, with plenty to admire, especially on the finish, where a note of creamy oolong tea lingers.
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.