cropthreash


Handmade wines since 1983.

 

 

 

2009 RIESLING KICK ON RANCH
Los Alamos Valley, Santa Barbara County

I had never thought much about riesling until I moved to Ojai full time in 1993. The summers here are hot, and I found myself drinking more white wine during those hot months. I don't care much for semisweet wines, but the dry style rieslings from Germany and Austria are quite thirst quenching—and surprisingly food friendly and versatile. That love of classic dry rieslings led to my curiosity about a small vineyard named Kick On Ranch way out west of the town of Los Alamos. Old-timer grape king Dale Hampton once told me that this area was particularly well suited for riesling, but since grape quality and the economics of the wine business don't always jive, almost all the Riesling in the valley was torn out and replaced with chardonnay. I jumped at the chance to buy some Riesling from Kick On in 2007 and it turned out to be a take-no-prisoners styled wine that had searing acidity and tasted terrific with goat cheese and crackers. This 2009 is also dry and strikingly unlike other California Rieslings, but is a bit more consensual. It has a beguiling lemon peel aroma and fresh pear and lemon flavors that will have you reaching for another glassful.
205 cases made.

 

Press Reviews

Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
“Greenish yellow. Ginger and lemon peel on the mineral-accented nose. Then pliant and juicy in the mouth, with a fresh lemony flavor dominating. Pure and racy but a bit youthfully aggressive, with solid finishing grip and a hint of botanical herbs. This could use a little air or bottle age to settle down.” ( 88 Points )

2009 Riesling Kick On Ranch One Sheet

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