Winemaker Notes
There’s this effusive intensity of fragrances that seem to come from tropical market stand: nectarous ginger blossom, soursop fruit, limes. Tugging harder you’ll find that earthy gravitas of white tea and salty minerals. The palate is cool-hued with tangy lime and mint, with pulses of orangier fruit like loquat coming before the fine tea-like clench in the finish.
This full throttle sweet wine is a perfect match for fruit desserts like pie or cobbler and for the more adventurous has enough floral Riesling character to be used as chutney with spicy southern Indian dishes or Thai cuisine.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Riesling Kick On Ranch is lovely, with powerful scents of white blossom mingling with fresh lime and peach on the nose, with a slate-like undercurrent. Medium-bodied, it has generous, pure fruit character with bright freshness and a long, gently textured finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Notes of green herbs, lychee nut, citrus, and sappy flowers emerge from the 2018 Riesling Kick On, which is another medium-bodied white from this estate offering bright, clean acidity, good concentration, and a balanced, elegant style that's a joy to drink.
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.