Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2020 Grüner Veltliner Meeresboden is stellar. In fact, the 2020 might be one of the best vintages ever for the Meeresboden. A wine of precision, drive and mineral intensity, the 2020 impresses with its delineation and class. Lemon confit, white pepper, chalk, mint and sage lend notable complexity to this vibrant, wonderfully expressive Grüner.
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Wine Enthusiast
There’s a steely line of minerality that slices through the nose of this bottling, which simultaneously shows warmer qualities of kiwi, apple flesh and dried grass. The palate is very grippy in texture, as subtle undercurrents of pear skin, lime peel and orange sorbet lead into a delicately nutty finish.
Fun to say and delightfully easy to drink, Grüner Veltliner calls Austria its homeland. While some easily quaffable Grüners come in a one-liter—a convenient size—many high caliber single vineyard bottlings can benefit from cellar aging. Somm Secret—About 75% of the world’s Grüner Veltliner comes from Austria but the variety is gaining ground in other countries, namely Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the United States.
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.