Winemaker Notes
Kick On Ranch gives a piercing expression of Riesling, one that’s striking in the way it blurs your sense of the familiar and the exotic. In this 2021 bottling you have this cool, stony kind of earthiness mingling with heady fragrances that make you think of drinking some cocktail in the shade of tropical beach palms—white tea, citrus peels and lemongrass at first, followed by a plethora of exotic flowers like ginger blossom and plumeria. There’s a penetrating zesty greenery throughout, with flavors of lime and soursop, but also softer golden hued layers of loquat and juicy pluots. The mineral crackle in the finish rounds out this altogether refreshing and engaging wine. As fun as this wine is in its youth, this wine ages gracefully into a more mineral regality, keeping all its exotic flair in an ethereal way.
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
Bright lychee, grapefruit, and honeyed flower notes, as well as a kiss of classic Riesling petrol, emerges from the 2021 Riesling Kick On Ranch, a bright, refreshing, juicy Riesling with high yet integrated acidity, terrific balance, and a great finish. It's good today and will still be drinking nicely in a decade as well.
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.