2019 Robert Sinskey "Abraxas", Los Carneros, California, USA

ABOUT THIS WINE

The organic, regenerative Scintilla Sonoma Vineyard was cobbled together in the late ’90’s from a horse ranch, an abandoned Christmas tree farm and fields of detritus. The soil was compacted and either too rich in horse manure or lacking in organic material from years of abuse and neglect.  RSV spent decades growing soil balancing cover crops to heal an ailing earth.

The vines, planted in adjacent blocks of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Gewürztraminer, naturally access the nutrients they need from the decomposing cover crop and compost. The grapes ripen slowly in the cooler Carneros region, developing deep and complex flavors while maintaining bright, natural acidity. Each variety is harvested independently with almost a month passing between the Gewürztraminer and Riesling picks. All the grapes are hand-harvested at night to retain freshness, whole cluster pressed and cool fermented in a method that only enhances the deep, complex flavors while maintaining a vibrant mouthfeel. Each vintage is blended by taste to create a naturally balanced, delicious wine.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

RSV is a second generation, family-owned and operated vineyard and winery. Every vine for every wine was planted by RSV and every vineyard is certified* organic. One could say that RSV is beyond organic. Since 1991, RSV has been practicing the “whole farm” philosophy of interrelationships based on Rudolph Steiner’s 1928 lecture “Agriculture.” This approach stresses the need to heal damage done by modern, mechanized farming - tapping into the rhythms of nature, encouraging natural processes, to grow superior winegrapes that require little but care to craft into expressive, vibrant and living wines.

RSV approaches the cellar as purists (with the same winemaker, Jeff Virnig, for over twenty-five years) to craft wines that are true and pure. The guiding principle that “wine is not an athletic event” has allowed the wines of RSV to stay true to vineyard and variety. Elegance over brawn has always been the house style and RSV does not submit wine for review by score-centric critics; because to taste wine in a competitive atmosphere, without food on the table, encourages wines that shout, ignoring subtle wines of balance, finesse and elegance... the attributes that define the fine wines of RSV.

*RSV’s vineyards are certified by C.C.O.F. - California Certified Organic Farmers. Due to the fee structure of Demeter USA, RSV no longer uses the trademarked words “Demeter” or “Biodynamic” as of the 2012 vintage - no matter, RSV has not changed farming philosophy.