2018 Grenache Blanc

Pale gold color. Aromas of citrus and green plum, white flowers, complex minerals, and exotic oak spices. Lemon, pear, and tart pineapple fruits on entry, refreshing acidity, and a medium body; Long, citrus zest aftertaste. EB (6/19)

This is our first grenache blanc bottling. Our well-established white winemaking methods were used. To maintain greater fruit definition and freshness a portion of this wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks. The balance was fermented in barrel with twelve percent of the final wine in new oak, adding a touch of spice and richness. This wine will be most enjoyable over the next five to six years.

The Adelaida District is well-suited to growing superb white Rhône varietals. Located in the hills west of Paso Robles, thirteen miles from the Pacific Ocean, its limestone subsoils produce wines with excellent mineral character.

Rainfall: 20 inches (above normal)
Bloom: Late May
Weather: Spring rains helped the vines get through a warm summer; fall was mild.

Harvest Dates: 8 – 17 September
Grapes: Average Brix 23.2˚
Fermentation: Whole-cluster pressed. Natural primary finished January 2019, and secondary finished by March 2019. 44% Stainless steel tank fermented, 56% barrel fermented.
Barrels: 56% aged in 90% air-dried american oak barrels and 10% french oak (12% new, 10% four-years-old, and 78% five-years-old).
Aging: Eight months in barrel

Hand-harvested grapes; whole-cluster pressed; fermented on the native yeasts; full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (35 ppm initially to barrels, 55 ppm over the course of aging). Pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

Vinous Media: 91 Points “A new wine in this range, the 2018 Grenache Blanc is bright and focused, with lovely orchard fruit and floral character. Made like a Chardonnay, with full malolactic fermentation and aging in barrel (mostly American oak), the Grenache Blanc has quite a bit more body and richness than most Central Coast white Rhône blends, while retaining terrific energy. Ridge sources this fruit from the Adelaida estate in Paso Robles.” – Antonio Galloni (October 2019)

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SRP: suggested retail price per bottle (U.S. dollars).