Winemaker Notes
The wine has some of the classic Grüner Veltliner notes such as grapefruit, nectarine, melon, and thyme. The thing that I love though is that it has this yellow kiss of California sunshine. With a bit of age, the wine will develop a wonderful honey and beeswax note.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2021 Grüner Veltliner Meeresboden is the more aromatic of the two Grüners in the range. White flowers, jasmine, mint, pear, marzipan and citrus lend gorgeous effusive energy. The Meeresboden is a blend of John Sebastiano and Kick-on Ranch. The polished, bright finish is a thing of beauty. The 2021 was aged 80% in tank and 20% in acacia.
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.