Winemaker Notes
Kick On Ranch turns out to be an ideal spot for Riesling. Located in the Los Alamos Valley, one of the three east-west valleys of northern Santa Barbara County, and like Santa Maria Valley and western Santa Ynez Valley there are no mountains blocking the Pacific’s unrelentingly cool breezes. And this fact sets the stage for moderate temperatures during the summer months. Travel east in the same valleys and the ocean influence decreases and the temps jump up.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
I also loved the 2015 Riesling Kick On, and it's probably my favorite vintage for this cuvée. Green citrus, wet stone, green apple and spice flow to a fresh, elegant, beautifully textured Riesling that has a terrific, salty finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Riesling Kick On Ranch is a beauty that offers classic aromas and flavors of citrus blossom, mint and lychee in an elegant, textured package. It will be incredibly versatile on the dinner table.
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.
With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate Central Coast wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.