2021 Tatomer "Kick On Ranch Clone 239" Riesling, Santa Barbara, California

ABOUT THIS WINE

The Kick-on-Ranch Clone 239 Riesling is yet another stunning white crafted by Graham Tatomer, the States' leading producer of Germanic varieties. Grafted onto Pinot Noir vines nearly a decade ago by Graham himself, the decision to choose Clone 239 was inspired by the viticultural team at Weingut Knoll in the Wachau, where Graham learned his trade. The sandy soils and coastal breezes of Kick-on-Ranch make it the ideal place for growing Riesling, yielding a wine of stunning complexity and balance. Crafted from a selection of standard and botrytized grapes and fermented to dryness, it sings with vibrant notes of fresh citrus, green orchard fruits, white flowers, wet stone, and just a touch of petrol.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Winemaker Graham Tatomer is a longtime member of the wine industry (since he was 16!). A passion for Riesling led him to Austria to study winemaking there where he became interested in Grüner Veltliner as well. Today, Graham makes wines of a clear Austrian pedigree – they are haltingly alluring in their presentation of power, precision, and detail – but their tenor is wholly idiosyncratic: they belong to the soils and climes of Santa Barbara. He has identified superior sites for these two white varieties, and has made strides, in concert with their farmers, to dictate their farming – even when receiving mere fractions of their yields. He often picks with multiple passes in the interest of celebrating diverse textures and expressions of flavor, and sorts even further to promote purity and singular bottlings. What’s more, he enjoys the region’s favored varieties, too, and can stand alongside the best of his peers in producing tensile, delicate Pinot Noir – in minute quantities.